Diaspora Global Politics: Kurdish transnational networks

Auteur :

Éditeur : Göteborg University	Date & Lieu : , Göteborg
Préface :	Pages : 248
Traduction :	ISBN : 91 87380-64- 1
Langue : Anglais	Format : 145x215mm
Code FIKP : Liv. Eng. Ema. Dia. N° 2230	Thème : Politique

Présentation	Table des Matières	Introduction	Identité	PDF
Kurdish transnational networks and accommodation of nationalism Ann-Catrin Emanuelsson Göteborg University Migrants and refugees are increasingly regarded as diasporas or transnational communities. They are described as actors creating new transnational spaces beyond nation states. As they engage in various types of activities across boundaries, they develop multiple identities and a sense of multi-locality. In terms of political ideas and activities directed towards countries of origin, however, they are often still characterised as nationalist actors using cross-border means to strengthen the nation state system. Sometimes they are even described in sharp contrast to transnational cosmopolitan social movements. This thesis discusses diasporas as increasingly significant ‘transnational’ actors in emerging ‘global politics’ by describing and analysing changes in political ideas, strategies, activities and networks of Kurdish diaspora organisations. It shows that the case of the Kurds encompasses many issues of interest for increased understanding of diasporas / transnational communities within the complexity of transformations ‘between’ as well as ‘within’ nation states. As the Kurdish issue was internationalised and the Kurds were increasingly recognised as Kurds in the 1990s, the diaspora organisations not only increased their transnational networks, they also entered a process going from proposing outright Kurdish independence to successively accommodating ideas concerned with ‘universal’ human rights, cultural and political pluralism and post-sovereignty.


Table des Matières
Contents Acknowledgements / 9 Abbreviations and glossary / 10 1. Introduction / 13 The problem-area / 13 The Kurdish case / 17 Purpose, research questions and delimitations / 21 Methodological considerations / 23 Abduction, interpretation and reflection / 23 Selection of organisations / 27 Methodological triangulation / 30 Outline of the thesis / 34 2. Global change and diaspora politics: A theoretical framework / 36 Processes of globalisation / 36 Diasporas, transnationalism and globalisation / 43 Definitions of diaspora / 45 Global/transnational processes involving diasporas/transnational communities / 47 Political transnationalisation/global politics by diasporas/transnational communities / 53 Political organisation, strategies, activities and networks / 54 Political principles/ideologies / 58 Political achievements by diasporas/transnational communities / 60 Analytical scheme / 61 3. The nation states and the Kurdish diaspora: A historical framework / 64 Nationalism, exile and migration at the turn of 2O'h century / 64 New states: official nationalisms, oppression and Kurdish resistance / 66 Internationalisation and beyond: the Gulf War, ‘humanitarian intervention and Kurdish self-rule / 72 Turkey and European régionalisation / 78 The Kurdish diaspora / 81 Internal and external migrants and refugees / 81 Political practices and networks / 85 Integration, return and beyond / 91 4. Diaspora organisations: political practices and networks in the 1980s / 100 Mobilisation for Kurdish national unity / 100 Organisation and co-operation / 100 The liberation of Kurdistan / 105 Rescuing the Kurdish identity and cultural heritage / 107 Newsletters, demonstrations and cultural events / 109 Linguistic rights for the Kurds in the diaspora / 112 Strategies to mobilise European support and solidarity / 114 Appealing to and inviting the public / 114 Developing contact with authorities, parties and organisations / 115 In search of support among third world counterparts / 117 The necessity of acknowledging living conditions abroad / 118 Possibilities and constraints in the diaspora / 121 5. After Halabja: Multi-layered strategies and networks across boundaries / 125 Transnational activities and networks / 126 Human rights conferences and the founding of new organisations / 126 Non-state actors — concerted actions / 128 New means: the media and internet / 133 ‘Kurdish voices are rarely heard’: Time for change / 136 Encounters with representatives from the countries of settlement/asylum / 136 The European region / 152 The bodies of the United Nations / 157 The states in the region of origin / 159 Kurdish ‘transnational’ networks / 162 Increased co-operation between diaspora organisations / 162 Emerging networks with non-state actors in the 'countries of origin’ / 167 Contact and co-operation with Kurdish political parties / 170 The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq / 174 6. Kurds in the world: Accommodating global realities and perspectives / 176 New foundations: ‘universal’ human rights and humanitarian standards / 176 Democracy as aim, democracy as means / 184 Non-violent humanitarian intervention, relief and long-term assistance / 187 Developing aspects of the right of self-determination / 192 Emphasising socio-economic living conditions in the diaspora / 201 Kurdish culture and integration within the framework of pluralism / 204 7. Conclusions / 209 Kurdish transnational networks / 210 Human rights, cultural and political pluralism / 212 Accommodation of nationalism / 213 (Kurdish) diaspora politics in globalising processes / 214 Future prospects / 221 References / 223