Resurgence and remaking of identity. Civil Beliefs, Domestic and External Dynamics, and the Turkish Mainstream Discourse on Kurds Export

@article{somer2005, abstract = {This article analyzes the case of Turkey and theorizes about the causal mechanisms that can explain discursive transformations through which dominant perceptions of ethnic identities are suppressed, revived, and remade. Systematic content analysis of a major Turkish newspaper from 1984 through 1998, comparisons across subperiods, in-depth interviews with prominent journalists, and detailed examination of the historical events constitute the empirical analysis. Arguing that the state elites did not form a monolithic group, it is shown that the transformation of the mainstream discourse during the 1990s occurred after several reversals, relatively swiftly, and at least partly despite resistance from within the state. TheKurdistanWorker's Party conflict; shifting instrumental elite beliefs; breakdown of cooperation among moderates; external developments, including those in Iraq; and cascade mechanisms played causal roles. The explanation contributes to a multidisciplinary body of literatures on public-political discourse, cascade theories of social-political change, ethnic conflict, democratization, Turkey, and Kurds and derives policy implications.}, author = {Somer, Murat}, citeulike-article-id = {1291464}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0010414005277268}, doi = {10.1177/0010414005277268}, journal = {Comparative political studies}, keywords = {cascades, discourse, identity, iraq, kurds, transition, turkey}, month = {August}, number = {6}, pages = {591--622}, posted-at = {2007-05-12 16:04:07}, priority = {2}, title = {Resurgence and remaking of identity. Civil Beliefs, Domestic and External Dynamics, and the Turkish Mainstream Discourse on Kurds}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0010414005277268}, volume = {38}, year = {2005} }

TY - JOUR ID - somer2005 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1291464 N2 - This article analyzes the case of Turkey and theorizes about the causal mechanisms that can explain discursive transformations through which dominant perceptions of ethnic identities are suppressed, revived, and remade. Systematic content analysis of a major Turkish newspaper from 1984 through 1998, comparisons across subperiods, in-depth interviews with prominent journalists, and detailed examination of the historical events constitute the empirical analysis. Arguing that the state elites did not form a monolithic group, it is shown that the transformation of the mainstream discourse during the 1990s occurred after several reversals, relatively swiftly, and at least partly despite resistance from within the state. TheKurdistanWorker’s Party conflict; shifting instrumental elite beliefs; breakdown of cooperation among moderates; external developments, including those in Iraq; and cascade mechanisms played causal roles. The explanation contributes to a multidisciplinary body of literatures on public-political discourse, cascade theories of social-political change, ethnic conflict, democratization, Turkey, and Kurds and derives policy implications. IS - 6 JF - Comparative political studies EP - 622 TI - Resurgence and remaking of identity. Civil Beliefs, Domestic and External Dynamics, and the Turkish Mainstream Discourse on Kurds VL - 38 SP - 591 KW - cascades KW - discourse KW - identity KW - iraq KW - kurds KW - transition KW - turkey AU - Somer, Murat PY - 2005/08// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0010414005277268 ER -