Multiculturalism in Turkey : The Kurds and the State

Looking at the situation of Kurds in Turkey through the lens of multiculturalism, this book offers a comparative analysis of attempts to find a solution to the often violent situation. Looking at wider contexts of state and nation-building projects, this book is ideal for scholars and policy makers working on Turkish politics, Kurds, national minorities, multiculturalism and conflict resolution.

Over the past couple of decades, there have been many efforts to seek a solution to the often violent situation in which Kurdish citizens of Turkey find themselves. These efforts have included a gradual programme of political recognition and multiculturalism. Here, Durukan Kuzu examines the case of Kurdish citizens in Turkey through the lens of the global debate on multiculturalism, exploring the limitations of these policies. He thereby challenges the conventional thinking about national minorities and their autonomy, and offers a scientifically grounded comparative framework for the study of multiculturalism. Through comparison of the situation of Kurds in Turkey with that of other national minorities - such as the Flemish in Belgium, Québécois in Canada, Corsicans in France, and Muslims in Greece - the reader is invited to question in what forms multiculturalism can work for different national minorities. A bottom-up approach is used to offer a fresh insight into the Kurdish community and to highlight conflicting views about which form the politics of recognition could take.