From Kurdishness to Turkishness. (c2018)

Abstract

This thesis aims to contribute to the literature on ethnic identity. Despite many attempts by Turkey’s ruling party and most local and international media outlets to confine the newly established Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to its alleged Kurdish identity, the party views itself as one for all of Turkey’s peoples and ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. Utilizing Kanchan Chandra’s Constructivist Dataset for Ethnicities and Institutions (CDEI) and its relevant indicators for an ethnic party, this thesis analyzes the HDP’s identity and demonstrates that the party chose to express a multi-ethnic, ‘activated’ identity, rather than limit itself to its ‘nominal’ identity and predominantly Kurdish base. It does so by exploring the HDP’s multi-ethnic identity in the party’s choice of name, party program, explicit appeals and issue positions, ethnic composition of its leadership and candidates, ability to contest elections nationwide, and the discourse used in the party’s parliamentary and presidential electoral campaigns, slogans, songs, and speeches (2015-2018). The thesis concludes that identities are malleable social constructs, and that political parties, like individuals, can shape and reshape their identity.