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Re-imagining national struggle: Resistance narratives within the exiled Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran

Bradshaw Thorell, Carl LU (2019) CMEM01 20191
Centre for Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract
In 2016 the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) decided to modify its resistance strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). This study analyses political imaginations within the displaced KDPI community in Iraqi Kurdistan through a social constructivist paradigm and the methods of observations and interviews. Findings highlight “insider views” of resistance and outline how identity processes and memory cultures are pivotal to comprehend resistance narratives within the KDPI community. The study further suggests that identity construction is manufactured by broader shared values rather than narrow ethno-cultural allegiance, while being enunciated through nationalist discourse in pursuit of ideational legitimacy. Concerning... (More)
In 2016 the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) decided to modify its resistance strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). This study analyses political imaginations within the displaced KDPI community in Iraqi Kurdistan through a social constructivist paradigm and the methods of observations and interviews. Findings highlight “insider views” of resistance and outline how identity processes and memory cultures are pivotal to comprehend resistance narratives within the KDPI community. The study further suggests that identity construction is manufactured by broader shared values rather than narrow ethno-cultural allegiance, while being enunciated through nationalist discourse in pursuit of ideational legitimacy. Concerning memory, findings indicate that history is reconstructed to support present political needs. Memories emblematize values of heroism and trauma, constituting a central power resource through which KDPI members express their identity constructions and legitimize resistance. However, emotional distress and demand for concrete political gains has led to internal divergence. To maintain authority, KDPI’s official values may thus need to be compromised. In 2016 KDPI announced the policy of Rasan, meaning reaction or uprising. Rasan should be understood as a revival of political struggle and thus stands out as such a compromise. Essentially, this study illuminates how increasing tensions between KDPI and IRI may function as a catalyst for increased tensions in Iran and the region. (Less)
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author
Bradshaw Thorell, Carl LU
supervisor
organization
course
CMEM01 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
KDPI, political imaginations, identity processes, memory cultures, resistance narratives, social constructivism, Rasan
language
English
id
8986320
date added to LUP
2019-08-28 16:28:06
date last changed
2019-08-28 16:28:06
@misc{8986320,
  abstract     = {{In 2016 the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) decided to modify its resistance strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). This study analyses political imaginations within the displaced KDPI community in Iraqi Kurdistan through a social constructivist paradigm and the methods of observations and interviews. Findings highlight “insider views” of resistance and outline how identity processes and memory cultures are pivotal to comprehend resistance narratives within the KDPI community. The study further suggests that identity construction is manufactured by broader shared values rather than narrow ethno-cultural allegiance, while being enunciated through nationalist discourse in pursuit of ideational legitimacy. Concerning memory, findings indicate that history is reconstructed to support present political needs. Memories emblematize values of heroism and trauma, constituting a central power resource through which KDPI members express their identity constructions and legitimize resistance. However, emotional distress and demand for concrete political gains has led to internal divergence. To maintain authority, KDPI’s official values may thus need to be compromised. In 2016 KDPI announced the policy of Rasan, meaning reaction or uprising. Rasan should be understood as a revival of political struggle and thus stands out as such a compromise. Essentially, this study illuminates how increasing tensions between KDPI and IRI may function as a catalyst for increased tensions in Iran and the region.}},
  author       = {{Bradshaw Thorell, Carl}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Re-imagining national struggle: Resistance narratives within the exiled Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}