Exploring nationalist dynamics in the changing political environment after the 2016 military coup in Turkey: Comparative analysis of the partnership between the People’s Democratic Party (pro-Kurdish) and the Republican People’s Party (pro-Turkish) in Kurdish regions

• Thesis title in Czech: Zkoumání nacionalistické dynamiky v měnícím se politickém prostředí po vojenském převratu v Turecku v roce 2016: Srovnávací analýza partnerství mezi Lidovou demokratickou stranou (pro-kurdská) a Republikánskou lidovou stranou (pro-turecká) v kurdských regionech
• Thesis title in English: Exploring nationalist dynamics in the changing political environment after the 2016 military coup in Turkey: Comparative analysis of the partnership between the People’s Democratic Party (pro-Kurdish) and the Republican People’s Party (pro-Turkish) in Kurdish regions
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2024/2025
• Thesis type: dissertation
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Social Geography and Regional Development (31-340)
• Supervisor: Mgr. Martin Lepič, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept.
• Date of registration: 08.10.2024
• Date of assignment: 10.10.2024
• Confirmed by Study dept. on: 10.10.2024
• Advisors: Pelin Ayan Musil, Ph.D.

Preliminary scope of work

This study aims to reveal, with its findings, the intricate dynamics of the political partnership that emerged after the failed military coup in 2016 between the opposing nationalist parties (which has historically been diametrically enemy to each other) in the Kurdish regions. These are the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which defends Kurdish rights and identity, and Turkish nationalist Republican People’s Party (CHP). Applying the method of comparative analysis in a wide area, this study tries to explain how these opposing nationalist parties managed the relationship between them in the context of increasing political polarization in Turkish domestic politics and emerging new political dynamics in Kurdish regions. This dissertation project aims to bring a deeper perspective on the complexity of nationalist dynamics in today’s Kurdish politics by comprehensively analysing the ideological approaches, historical roots, traditional election strategies and political preferences of the parties in question while building on in-depth field research among various party respresentatives.