The Kurdish Diaspora in the Netherlands
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The Kurdish Diaspora in the Netherlands Transnational involvement and inter-ethnic tensions in the host society Name: Josie Joanna Kolsteren Student ID: 10608893 Supervisor: dr. A.J. van Heelsum Second reader: dr. P.E. Pallister-Wilkins University: University of Amsterdam Program: MSc Conflict Resolution and Governance Word count: 23,934 Date: June 28, 2018 1 2 Table of content List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Theoretical framework .................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 The concept of diaspora ................................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Diasporas and transnationalism ............................................................................................. 10 2.3 Transnational identity ................................................................................................................ 11 2.4 Cultural, social, economic and political transnational activities ................................ 13 2.5 The role of diasporas in conflict .............................................................................................. 15 2.6 Determinants of transnational involvement ....................................................................... 16 2.7 Research themes ............................................................................................................................ 18 3. The Kurdish diaspora ................................................................................................................................... 19 3.1 Kurdish identity and history ..................................................................................................... 19 3.2 The Kurds in Turkey ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 The Kurds in Iraq .......................................................................................................................... 21 3.4 The Kurds in Iran .......................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 The Kurds in Syria ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.6 Kurdish migration into Europe ................................................................................................ 25 3.7 The Kurdish diaspora in Europe .............................................................................................. 26 4. Methodology ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 4.1 Research design ............................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 Operationalization ....................................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Respondents .................................................................................................................................... 31 4.4 Methodological limitations ....................................................................................................... 32 4.5 Ethical considerations ................................................................................................................. 32 3 5. Results .................................................................................................................................................................. 34 5.1 Kurdish transnational identity................................................................................................. 34 5.2 Transnational activities.............................................................................................................. 40 5.2.1 Cultural transnational activities ................................................................................. 40 5.2.2 Social transnational activities...................................................................................... 42 5.2.3 Economic transnational activities .............................................................................. 45 5.2.4 Political transnational activities ................................................................................. 47 5.3 Inter-ethnic tensions in the host society ............................................................................... 55 6. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 60 6.1 Outcomes .......................................................................................................................................... 60 6.2 Reflections on theory ................................................................................................................... 61 6.3 Limitations and further research ............................................................................................ 62 7. Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................................... 64 8. Appendix ............................................................................................................................................................. 71 6.1 Interview guide .............................................................................................................................. 71 4 List of abbreviations KDPI Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan KDP Kurdistan Democratic Party KJAK Kurdistan Free Life Party KNC Kurdish National Council KSVN Koerdische Studenten Vereniging Nederland PKK Kurdistan Workers’ Party PUK Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PVV Partij Voor de Vrijheid PYD Democratic Union Party YPG People’s Protection Units YPJ Women’s Protection Units 5 Acknowledgements I would like to thank dr. Anja van Heelsum for the structured guidance and support that she gave me throughout the process of writing this thesis, and for giving me constructive feedback on my work. I greatly appreciate the effort that Anja spend on continuously reviewing my work and the time that she took to discussing possible points of improvements with me. Furthermore I would like to thank dr. Polly Pallister-Wilkins for taking the time and effort to review this thesis as a second reader. Last not but least, I would like to express my gratitude to all my respondents, as without their contributions I would not have been able to write this thesis. I would like to thank all inspiring Kurdish respondents for telling me their personal stories, for opening up and being vulnerable, for being so welcoming, for sharing their traditional food with me, and for inspiring me with their hopes and dreams for a peaceful future for the Kurds. 6 1. Introduction The role of diasporas in conflict resolution has been explored by several studies in the past decades (Antwi-boateng 2011; Fagen & Bump 2006; Lyons 2007; Pirkkalainen & Mahdi 2009; Sheffer 2003; Shain 2002; Smith & Stares 2007). Diasporas have been characterized as both ‘peace-wreckers’ and ‘peace-makers’ (Pirkkalainen & Mahdi 2009; Smith & Stares 2007). The extent to which diasporas engage in homeland conflict today, either positively or negatively, is largely influenced by the increasing speed of globalization and channels of communication. Migrants are now more than ever able to retain close socio-cultural, economic and political ties with their homelands. Along with the growing concerns around the migration influx of refugees in the European Union today it remains uncertain what the effects of such processes of transnationalism are. The huge flows of migration have raised many controversial debates and pose challenges to policymakers across Europe. Whereas much research has focused on how transnational communities affect politics in their homeland, the existing literature attributes relatively little attention to questioning how migrants import homeland conflicts and accordingly maintain inter-ethnic tensions in the country of settlement. Apart from existing theories around transnational activities and identity, rarely social scientists have focused on the link between transnational (political) involvement and inter-ethnic relations among different migrant communities in the host country (Brown 2004: 6). With the continuation of globalization processes and conflict-related migration flows, it is likely that host governments in Europe will have to deal with the issue of inter-ethnic conflict in the diaspora context increasingly. It is therefore essential to examine what factors and characteristics define transnational involvement of diaspora communities and what shapes potential inter-ethnic tensions and conflict in the host country context. A relatively recent example of the described issue is the