CALL FOR PAPERS:
International Conference:
The PKK, Kurdish Nationalism and the Future of Turkey
Virginia Tech National Capital Region
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://turkeyandkurds.blogspot.com/
Organized and Sponsored by
School of Public & International
Affairs, Virginia Tech, National Capital Region.
Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies Chair (Indiana University)
We plan to organize an international conference on the PKK, Kurdish Nationalism and the Future of Turkey. This will be a one day conference with four specific panels. The conference will be held at the Virginia Tech Alexandria Campus, in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria, and the Washington DC metro region.
The objective of this conference is to
understand the complex relationship between Kurds and Modern Turkey. The
collapse of the Ottoman Empire left unprecedented political conditions in the
region, with the formation of nation-states without any social and economic
foundations. In this context, the new form of nationalism attempted to create a
territory-based form of national identity; however, demographic challenges such
as urban and rural demographic contradictions), a lack of higher education, lack
of an established rule of law and of capital accumulation has led to
instability and the formation of a non-organic type of modernization and
national identity in the region and Turkey. In the meantime, transnational
economic development has weakened the role of the nation-state over the last 30
years and ethnic nationalisms have emerged across the Middle East. This set the
stage for the resurgence of Kurdish Nationalism in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and
Iran. The Marxist-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) first waged war against
the Turkish Nation State in 1984. However, as a result of the social, political
and economic transformations in the world and US involvement in the region, the
PKK changed its ideological foundation from Marxism to nationalism in 1995, as
part of the 5th PKK Congress. At this time, the Marxist star was
removed from its flag and ethnic nationalist symbols and slogans were used to
replace it. At the same time, more than sixty percent of the Kurdish population
migrated to non-Kurdish industrialized cities in Turkey. Today, the Kurdish
population in modern Turkey is more educated, urbanized, and they invest in the
Western as much as the Eastern part of the country. Therefore, aspirations and
objectives of Kurdish Nationalism is currently in a stage of transformation,
and its objectives have begun to shift from that of obtaining an independent
Kurdish State to seeking the status as equal citizens of modern Turkey. The
latter objective – the integration of the Kurdish population into the larger
population of Turkey - is likely to create numerous opportunities for the modernization
of Turkey and the wider region. In this conference, we will explore this
transformation, and possible future trajectories between Turkey and its
relations with the Kurds.
You will find detailed information about
the conference below:
PANEL-1: Kurdish Nationalism in
Iran, Iraq and Syria
We welcome submissions related to, but
not limited to the following subjects:
•
Kurdish
nationalism in Iran
•
Kurdish
nationalism in Iraq
•
Kurdish
nationalism in Syria
•
Kurdish
nationalism in the Diaspora
PANEL-2: Kurdish Nationalism in
Contemporary Turkey
We welcome submissions related to, but
not limited to the following subjects:
•
Kurdish
Nationalism in historical context
•
Kurdish
and Turkish nationalisms
•
Imperialism
and Kurdish nationalism
•
American
foreign policy towards Turkey and the Kurds
PANEL-3: PKK and Kurdish Nationalism
We welcome submissions related to, but
not limited to the following subjects:
•
Origin
and development of the PKK
•
The PKK
and the ‘war on terrorism.’
•
Relationship
between the PKK, the US and Europe
PANEL-4: The Kurds and the Future of
Turkey
We welcome submissions related to, but
not limited to the following subjects:
•
The
future relationship between Kurds and Turkey
•
JDP
and Kurdish Nationalism
•
Kurdish
regional government and Turkey
•
Future
trajectories of American foreign policy towards Turkey and the Kurds
•
Future
trajectories of Turkish and Kurdish politics
Please submit your interest, with a short
abstract (300-400 Words) and short bio (100-200 words). The deadline for abstract
submissions is Monday, August 19th 2013. The authors of accepted
papers will be notified by September 1st 2013.
Please submit your paper to the following
address: [log in to unmask]
If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate contact us.
Dr. Kemal Silay, Professor of Turkish Language and Literature; Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies Endowed Chair Professor; Director, Turkish Language Flagship Center; Director, Turkish Studies Program; Indiana University
Dr. Tugrul Keskin, Assistant Professor of International and Middle East Studies; Affiliated Faculty of Black Studies Sociology, and Turkish Studies; Portland State University