The Kurdish Quest for Self-determination: Looking to Individual Experiences to Administer Differences

• Main Author: Mutlu, Azer Ebru
• Other Authors: Schneiderman, David
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Kurdish Self-Determination; French Republicanism; Decentralization; Pluralism; 0398
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/43265

The issue of Kurdish self-determination within the highly centralized Republic of Turkey has been a controversial issue with its local, national and international dimensions over the years. Without solving this issue, Turkey might not reach the aims of joining the European Union (EU), economic sustainability, literal democracy, pluralism, and peace. After 40 years armed struggle between Kurdish and Turkish sides, two significant suggestions are currently being discussed: a provincial system similar to what the Ottoman Empire accepted with its own multicultural system; second, the current unitary system with more powerful local authorities. This paper analyzes the problem in an inductive method and takes the second approach to evaluate Turkish centralization, modernization, and transformation to French Republicanism. This evaluation concludes with the critique of the French universal citizenship understanding and requirement of more pluralistic, democratic citizenship and administrative model as a solution of minority rights and self-determination problem in Turkey.