The conflict between ethnic minorities and nation-states has been subject to one of the most searching debates in the study of ethno-nationalism. The dominant approach among scholars is that ethnic conflicts stem from states' failure to recognize minority rights. Within the framework of this approach, it is assumed that ethnic conflicts occur due to the discriminatory policies on the part of the state. As a reaction to those policies, ethnic groups resist with rebellious elements. However this assimilation-resistance paradigm only considers the civic integration efforts of the state and fails to acknowledge the role of state's territorial integrity efforts and ethnic groups' demands to self-government in generating the conflict. Anchored in an ethno-symbolist framework, the purpose of this thesis is to explore the historical interpretational obstacles over the ownership of homeland between the states and ethnic groups when working towards a conflict resolution. Through a case study of Kurdish-Turkish conflict, this thesis addresses the different meanings of territory held by the state and the ethnic groups as one of the major causes of ethnic conflicts. / Master of Arts

Submitted by Elesbão Santiago Neto (neto10uepb@cche.uepb.edu.br) on 2018-03-27T20:35:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Elana Beatriz Silva Sabino de Farias.pdf: 35016337 bytes, checksum: cba862233f9a8cc77b9a3fb290a6cb95 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-27T20:35:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Elana Beatriz Silva Sabino de Farias.pdf: 35016337 bytes, checksum: cba862233f9a8cc77b9a3fb290a6cb95 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-04 / CAPES / The aim of this paper is to discuss the dissonance between Turkish and Kurdish identities in Anatolia, considering the conflagration of conflict between its representative actors. In this sense, the paper encompasses three sections: (a) presentation of theoretical perspectives on identity in the relevant historical contexts of the international system; (b) description of the trajectory of the Kurdish question in international politics; and (c) identification of the prospect scenarios for the dilemma between the narrative of Turkish national identity and the narrative of Kurdish national identity. The delimited time frame covers the period between 1984 and 2016. The methodology adopted includes the following classification: (a) descriptive research on the purposes; (b) bibliographical research on means; and (c) qualitative research on the form of approach. The research concludes that the conflict between the Turkish state and the Kurdish ethnic group is a reflection of the international system conjunctures that resulted in separatist nationalisms. Asymmetric identities and antagonistic languages, as well as poverty and despotism are the structural causes of long periods of violence in Anatolia. Sustainable peace will only be established through changes in Turkey's political, economic and social structures, starting with the dialogue between Partiya Karkêren Kurdistan (PKK) and the Turkish government. Only with the end of military and paramilitary operations the principles of democratization and self-determination can be institutionalized in the region. / O objetivo do trabalho é discutir a dissonância entre as identidades turca e curda na Anatólia, considerando a conflagração do conflito entre os seus representativos atores. Nesse sentido, o trabalho engloba três seções que decorrem conjugadas: (a) a apresentação das perspectivas teóricas que versam sobre a identidade nos pertinentes contextos históricos do sistema internacional; (b) a descrição da trajetória da questão curda na política internacional; e (c) a identificação dos cenários prospectivos para o dilema entre a narrativa da identidade nacional turca e a narrativa da identidade nacional curda. O marco temporal delimitado abrange o período entre 1984 e 2016. A metodologia adotada inclui a seguinte classificação: (a) pesquisa descritiva quanto aos fins; (b) pesquisa bibliográfica quanto aos meios; e (c) pesquisa qualitativa quanto à forma de abordagem. Em face da fundamentação teórica concernente ao tema, a dissertação conclui que o conflito entre o Estado turco e a etnia curda é um reflexo das conjunturas do sistema internacional que resultaram nos nacionalismos separatistas da contemporaneidade. As identidades assimétricas e as linguagens antagônicas, bem como as condições de pobreza e despotismo são as causas estruturais dos longos períodos de violência na Anatólia. O trabalho propugna que a paz sustentável só será estabelecida caso sejam efetivadas as modificações nas estruturas políticas, econômicas e sociais da Turquia, a partir do diálogo entre o Partiya Karkêren Kurdistan (PKK) e o governo turco. Somente com o fim das operações militares e paramilitares é que os princípios de democratização e autodeterminação poderão ser institucionalizados na região.

Despite the developments in the international arena to ensure and protect human rights, evidence from around the world showcase examples of organized and systematic violations of human rights in the form of war crimes, genocides, and crimes against humanity. Turkey is one of the countries that has shown decline in the last ten years when it comes to respect for human rights. Aftermath of the Coup d’etat from 2016, involvement in Syrian civil war, and Kurdish question raised concern within the international community regarding human rights. Consequently, this research aims to provide a deeper understanding of how Turkish government treats the civilian population in these three cases in order to assess if there is a risk of Turkish government committing crimes against humanity. Furthermore, in order to get a more objective view of the happenings, this paper will also examine Turkish actions through the lenses of Realism. A qualitative research with an abductive approach with case study design was conducted. Analytical framework, that presents 10 risk factors for committing atrocities and crimes against humanity, developed by Dieng and Welsh was utilized to make sense of gathered data. Realism, with focus on national interest and security, was used to examine Turkish actions. Findings suggest that all 10 risk factors are presented in each case through different indicators. Journalists, lawyers, professors, refugees, and Kurds face systematic threat of mostly arbitrary detentions and imprisonments. Furthermore, findings show that Turkish actions can be explained through national interest expressed through security and unitary national identity.