Conflict and reconciliation between Turks and Kurds: the HDP as an agonistic actor. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tekdemir, Omer
• Is Part Of: Journal of southeast European and Black Sea studies. Volume 16:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 651
• Page End: 669
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Populism -- radical democracy -- agonistic pluralism -- Peoples' Democratic Party -- HDP -- Kurdish conflict -- political reconciliation -- Turkey; Balkan Peninsula -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Balkan Peninsula -- Politics and government -- 1989- -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Balkan Peninsula -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Black Sea Region -- Periodicals; 330.9496
• DOI: 10.1080/14683857.2016.1246521
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-3857

Abstract

Abstract: This paper proposes an alternative form of conflict resolution to analyze ethnic conflict and Kurdish dissent in the polarized and divided society of Turkey. It does so by employing Mouffe's concept of agonism and radical democracy, in conjunction with Laclau's model of populism. Through an analysis of the role of the Kurdish-led, left-leaning populist party, the People's Democratic Party (HDP), and its approach to Turkish-Kurdish reconciliation, the paper makes the case for the political and theoretical effectiveness of an agonistic approach, illustrating the possibility of dispute resolution by taking conflict into the centre of the peace building process.