Kurdish Diaspora Mobilisation in Denmark
Supporting the Struggle in Syria
- Investigates how the Kurdish diaspora mobilised in support of Syrian Kurds, stressing the role of transnational actors in war
- Introduces strategic interactionism into the study of diaspora mobilisation, showing new paths for research
- Coins the term ‘alter-territorial’ identification to clarify how some Kurds identify with the political entity in a part of Kurdistan other than their place of origin
Anne Sofie Schøtt contributes to our understanding of mobilisation and identity formation in the periphery of the Kurdish diaspora by examining the small but well-established community in Denmark. Arguing that the Danish authorities treat the diaspora differently in comparison to neighbouring Sweden and Germany, Schøtt examines the political lobbyism, the courtroom activism and the humanitarian action of the various Kurdish diaspora groups. She examines the position of the Syrian Kurds within the diaspora who, like the Kurds in Syria, have been largely ignored until recently.
Schøtt also provides new knowledge on diaspora engagement in war in the homeland by analysing the strategic interaction between the Danish authorities and the Kurdish diaspora community – both engaged in the war against Islamic State, but on different terms.
Acknowledgements 7
Abbreviations 8
PART I: KURDISH DIASPORA MOBILISATION AND IDENTITY FORMATION
1. Introduction *
Introduction *
Focus and delimitations *
Outline of the book *
2. Conceptual and theoretical framework *
Kurdish diaspora studies *
Diaspora and transnationalism - discussion of terms *
Theoretical framework *
3. Methodology and fieldwork *
Methodology *
The fieldwork *
Ethical considerations *
The way ahead *
PART II: THE EMERGENCE OF KURDISH ACTIVISTS IN SYRIA AND IN DENMARK
4. The Kurds of Syria: From the forgotten people to world-stage actors *
Introduction *
The becoming of the ‘Syrian Kurds’ *
The Ba’ath era and the silence of the Syrian Kurds *
The 2011 uprising and the birth of Kurdish autonomy in Syria *
Transformation of the Syrian Kurdish identity for the future *
5. Becoming a Diaspora: The Kurds and the Kurdish activists in Denmark *
Introduction *
The emergence of a Kurdish diaspora in Denmark *
Kurdish groupings in Denmark in the 2010s *
PART III: AMBIGUOUS INTERPLAYS
6. The castle and the square: political lobbyism *
Introduction *
The Square *
The Castle *
The addressees of the political activism *
Kurdish rivalry *
The success of Kurdish lobbyism *
7. The courtroom: legal struggle for military support *
Introduction *
The military activism *
The courtroom activism *
Responses to the courtroom activism *
Last call *
Prospects for Kurdish courtroom activism *
8. The suburb and the field: charity work *
Introduction *
Motivation *
Upholding humanitarian principles *
The Suburb – mobilising the donors *
The Field – delivering humanitarian aid *
Outcome of Kurdish humanitarian activism *
PART IV: FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
9. Ambiguous interplays and reformulations of Kurdish identities *
Findings *
Kurdish activism in Denmark *
From Kobane to Afrin *
Final remarks *
Appendix *
References *
A unique account of how the Kurds in Denmark mobilised in support of the Kurdish struggle in Syria. Schøtt convincingly introduces an interactionist approach that interconnects the analysis of diaspora activism and diaspora identity. The book is a significant contribution to Peace and Conflict Studies, Kurdish Studies and Diaspora Studies.
