Browsing by Subject "Socioeconomic conditions"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
Exploring the roots and dynamics of Kurdish ethno-nationalism in Turkey
(Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2014) Sarıgıl, Z.; Fazlıoglu, O.
Using comprehensive and original data derived from a recent major public opinion survey, this study examines an under-investigated aspect of the Kurdish issue in Turkey: the dynamics and factors behind Kurdish ethno-nationalism at a mass level. The empirical findings disprove the conventional socio-economic peace and Islamic-peace hypotheses around this issue, and our statistical analyses provide strong support for the relative deprivation hypothesis, i.e. that those who think the Turkish state discriminates against Kurds are more likely to have ethno-nationalist orientations. Multivariate analyses further show that religious sectarian differences among Kurds (i.e. the Hanefi-Shafi division) matter: the more religious Shafi Kurds have a stronger ethnic consciousness and a higher degree of ethno-nationalism. The study also provides a discussion of the broader theoretical and practical implications of the empirical findings, which may provide insights into conflict resolution prospects in countries with a Kurdish population. © ASEN/John Wiley & Sons Ltd 2014.
Open Access
Harbours of crisis and consent: the technopolitics of coastal infrastructure in colonial Cyprus, 1895-1908
(SAGE Publications, 2016-09) Karas, S.; Arapostathis, S.
By the late 1800s British colonial rule in Cyprus was experiencing both a socioeconomic and a legitimacy crisis. Britain's development projects were intended to quell the crisis and consolidate colonial authority. Famagusta Harbour construction was an integral part of that programme, but it antagonised wealthy and influential Cypriots in Larnaca. They believed that such infrastructure would undermine the importance of Larnaca harbour and threaten their commercial and political interests. Their protests threatened the colonial administration with a new crisis that was averted by the integration of Larnaca's Harbour into British plans. The colonial regime had to negotiate and co-operate with local networks of power in order to realise its development programme: harbour development was no mere rational engineering exercise.
Open Access
The ‘Rojava revolution’ in Syrian Kurdistan: a model of development for the middle east?
(Institute of Development Studies, 2016) Cemgil, C.; Hoffmann, C.
As the civil war in Syria continues, in the territory of Rojava - in Kurdish, ‘the West’ - the northern Syrian Kurdish political movement is attempting to implement ‘libertarian municipalism’, based on the thoughts of United States (US) anarchist Murray Bookchin. Since the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces in 2012, the movement has consolidated significant territorial gains as a US ally in the anti-Islamic State (IS) struggle, while simultaneously securing Russian support. Viewed with suspicion by Turkey, Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan, the geopolitical conditions of Rojava’s emergence are its greatest impediment. This article analyses Rojava’s model of rule and socioeconomic development, and its theory and practice in the context of the civil war, and regional Middle Eastern and wider global geopolitics. It reflects on Rojava’s place and meaning for contemporary geopolitics in the Middle East, and considers the territory’s prospects, discussing its transformative potential for an otherwise troubled region. © 2016 The Authors and Institute of Development Studies.