Kurdish Studies Association

The Kurdish Studies Association (KSA) announces a call for papers for the November 2017 Middle East Studies Association (MESA) meeting to be held in Washington DC, November 18-21, 2017.

Narratives of Struggle: Maintaining and Preserving Kurdish Cultural Heritage

Deadline for submission: February 9, 2017
Organizer and Chair: Christian Sinclair

This organized panel seeks to explore the narratives and politics of cultural maintenance and preservation in the face of repression and conflict. Culture, as defined by UNESCO, is “that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society.” Cultural heritage can be tangible or intangible. According to Bouchenaki (2003), “[c]ultural heritage is a synchronized relationship involving society, norms, and values” and the “intangible heritage should be regarded as the larger framework within which tangible heritage takes on shape and significance.”

The overt struggles faced by the Kurds across the Middle East are well known and have a rich literature. What is less researched, and hence the theme of this panel, are the behind-the-scenes efforts to maintain, preserve, and document Kurdish cultural heritage in the face of these decades-long struggles in the region and beyond. How does culture survive decades of oppression? How is it preserved and documented when challenged by the state or even from within?

There is no singular Kurdish culture, but rather a multitude of sub-cultures that together form Kurdish cultural heritage, writ large. Questions this panel hopes to answer include: Who defines these Kurdish culture(s)? For whom is the culture maintained and/or preserved, and why? Are there competing narratives of a singular cultural element? What risks and challenges are inherent in preserving Kurdish culture in the region? What are the relationships between tangible and intangible Kurdish culture?

Points of consideration may include, but are not limited to:

• The role of institutions such as libraries, archives and museums
• Patrimony, ownership and possession
• Hegemony and representation
• Gendered perspectives on cultural heritage
• Language and ethno-linguistics
• Religion and religious institutions  

DEADLINE: By February 9, 2017, please send abstracts of 300-400 words for the panel. Include a brief 50-75 word bio. Those selected for the panel will be asked to submit their abstracts to MESA via their online submission system by February 15, 2017. Abstracts for this KSA-sponsored panel should be sent to: KSA Executive Secretary, William Kopycki at w.kopycki@gmail.com.

NOTE: All selected panelists must be members of MESA at the time of paper submissions to MESA. Student membership to MESA is $65. Professional membership rates vary according to income. Please do not submit an abstract to us if you are not prepared to join MESA once your abstract has been accepted. For more information about the MESA meeting, go to: http://mesana.org/annual-meeting/

The Kurdish Studies Association (KSA) announces a call for papers for the November 2016 Middle East Studies Association (MESA) meeting to be held in Boston, November 17-20, 2016.

Kurdish Artistic Expression, Resistance, and the State
Deadline for submission: February 9, 2016
Organizer and Chair: Christian Sinclair

This organized panel seeks to explore the relationships between artistic expression, resistance, and the state. Artistic expression is the manifestation of creative imagination through music, song, literature, film, dance, theatre, and many other venues. While many societies consider artistic expression freedom of speech, this is not the case with Kurds in Turkey, Syria, Iran, and to some extent Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurdish artistic expression has routinely been suppressed; Kurdish artists have been jailed or forced into exile. Kurdish cultural production is viewed as resistance to state policies and frequently labeled as a terrorist activity, particularly in Turkey.

For this special panel we are seeking papers that explore this volatile relationship between Kurdish artistic expression, resistance, and state politics. Some questions that come to mind are: How does the state view Kurdish artistic expression? How is it received by that state? In light of state censorship, how do Kurds use artistic production to promote Kurdish identity? To what extent do Kurds self-censor when creating their art? How has globalization affected cultural production and expression in these states? What creative spaces have been carved out for production and dissemination of Kurdish artistic expression? Given the nature of the relationship between the state and Kurdish expression of identity, some of those artistic spaces are found in the diaspora. Therefore, another question to consider might be: What is the role of Kurdish artists in the diaspora in expressing resistance to state policies?

This panel should be of particular interest to those involved in resistance studies, cultural studies, ethnomusicology, human rights, and minority rights.

DEADLINE: By February 9, 2016, please send abstracts of 300-400 words for the panel. Include a brief 50-75 word bio. Those selected for the panel will be asked to submit their abstracts to MESA via their online submission system by February 16, 2016. Abstracts for this KSA-sponsored panel should be sent to: KSA Secretary, William Kopycki at w.kopycki@gmail.com.

NOTE: All selected panelists must be members of MESA at the time of paper submissions to MESA. Student membership to MESA is $65. Professional membership rates vary according to income. Please do not submit an abstract to us if you are not prepared to join MESA once your abstract has been accepted. For more information about the MESA meeting, go to: http://mesana.org/annual-meeting/

In conjunction with the panel, KSA would like to arrange a Kurdish art exhibition or musical performance at MESA. If you have suggestions, please contact William Kopycki at the above email address.

The Kurdish Studies Association is pleased to announce the establishment of two new awards: a Kurdish Studies book award and an award for best graduate paper presented at the Middle East Studies Association meeting. KSA will present these awards during its annual meeting at MESA.

KSA would like to have both selection committees in place in early 2015. If you would like to serve on either committee, please send an email to KSA President, Christian Sinclair, at christian dot sinclair at arizona dot edu by January 1, 2015. The first order of business for both committees will be setting guidelines for each award. After that it will be the function of the committee to select award winners.

Dear KSA colleagues,

Many thanks to all of you who attended the Kurdish Studies Association meeting at MESA this year. We had a record turnout, which reflects the growing importance of Kurdish Studies. I hope too that you all enjoyed the reception afterwards at Levante’s. It was great to see so many new faces in DC – at the meeting, at the reception, and throughout the four days of the MESA conference. We hope to continue to build our presence at MESA.

During MESA 2015 in Denver (November 21-24), KSA will hold its annual meeting and we would like to host another reception for KSA members and guests. KSA is also going to begin a Kurdish Studies book award and an award for best graduate paper presentation at MESA. As the field of Kurdish Studies continues to grow, KSA will grow too, taking on new projects and moving forward to better serve its constituents. In order to do that though, KSA needs to begin collecting dues and formalizing its membership base.

Beginning in January 2015, dues will be collected annually at a rate of $30 ($15 for full-time students) and be valid for the remainder of the calendar year paid. Only current paid members will be allowed to propose panels, submit papers for a sponsored panel, vote on important KSA issues, submit a book or paper for an award, or be eligible to serve on award committees. Funds collected through membership dues will be used primarily for annual KSA membership with MESA, room rental at the annual MESA meeting, sponsorship of MESA-related events (ie films, guest speakers, receptions), and sponsorship of a KSA graduate student panel. The dues portal should be up and running by the end of this month.

Our first order of business for the new year is to set up two committees. One for the book award and one for the graduate paper award. If you are interested in serving on either committee, please send me an email (christian dot sinclair at arizona dot edu) by January 1, 2015. The KSA executive board will review names and select committee members. During this first year of service, committee members will have the task of setting up guidelines for each of the awards in addition to then selecting awardees.

Looking forward to a productive 2015 with all of you!

best,

Christian Sinclair
President, Kurdish Studies Association

The following statement (below in Turkish and English) is currently being circulated in support of Professor Kadri Yıldırım, who was taken into custody three days ago in Mardin. If you wish to offer your support, please send your title, name, and affiliation to Professor Mesut Yeğen at İstanbul Şehir Univeristy at the following email: mesutyegen@sehir.edu.tr. Put “Support for Prof Kadri Yildirim” in the subject line.

Kamuoyuna

Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi Rektör Yardımcısı Prof. Kadri Yıldırım üniversitede gerçekleştiği iddia edilen bir yolsuzlukla ilgili olarak üç gündür gözaltında tutulmaktadır. Avukatları, gözaltında olduğu bu üç gün boyunca söz konusu yolsuzluk iddiasıyla ilgili olarak Kadri Yıldırım’a herhangi bir ithamda bulunulmadığını belirtmektedir. Bu hal, Kadri Yıldırım’a Kürt meselesinde almış olduğu muhalif tutumun ve Kürdoloji alanına yaptığı eşsiz katkının bedelinin ödetilmek istendiği şeklinde bir izlenimin doğmasına yol açmaktadır.

Biz aşağıda imzası olanlar Prof. Kadri Yıldırım’a dönük bu haksız muameleyi protesto ediyor ve hocanın yanında olduğumuzu duyuruyoruz.

Public Statement

Vice Rector of Mardin Artuklu University, Professor Kadri Yıldırım, has been in custody for 3 days due to alleged corruption charges. In these 3 days in custody his lawyers have stated that Kadri Yıldırım has not been accused of the aforementioned corruption claim. This situation gives the impression that he is paying the price for his unique contributions to field of Kurdology and his opposing viewpoints with regards to the Kurdish issue.

We whose signatures are below protest the unfair treatment of Kadri Yıldırım  and we announce our support for him.

The Middle East Studies Association meeting is around the corner. It will take place in Washington, DC from November 22 to 25. The Kurdish Studies Association will host the following events:

Saturday, November 22
Annual meeting
2-3pm in Coolidge (M) at the conference hotel

Special guest speakers:

>Mehmet Yüksel, US representative from the People’s Democratic Party (HDP)
>Mutlu Çiviroğlu, Washington-based journalist will provide update on Kobanê

Kurdish Studies Association reception to follow, 3.30-5pm. Location to be announced at meeting.

Sunday, November 23
11am to 1pm
Conflict, Displacement and the Transformation of Kurdish Identity in Turkey: Negotiating Linguistic and Religious Identity(ies)

Organized by Mehmet Kurt

Sponsored by Kurdish Studies Association (KSA)

Chair: Christian Sinclair, U Arizona

Panelists:

Gulay Turkmen, Yale U–United in Religion, Divided by Ethnicity: The Failure of Islam as a Supranational Identity in the Kurdish-Turkish Conflict in Turkey

Mehmet Kurt, Selcuk U–Between Radical Islam and Kurdishness: An Ethnography of Kurdish Hizbullah in Turkey

Yeşim Mutlu, Middle East Technical U–Negotiating Kurdishness Through Language: The Case of Internally Displaced Kurdish Youngsters within the Education System in Turkey

Birgul Yilmaz, SOAS, U London– Language, Identity and Conflict in Turkey: Language Rights and Activism as a Catalyst of Democratization, Political Negotiation and Resistance

Sunday, November 23
2-4pm
Identity, Language, Media, and Memory: Kurds in the US Diaspora

Organized by Christian Sinclair

Sponsored by Kurdish Studies Association (KSA)

Panelists:

Aynur de Rouen, Binghamton U SUNY– Coming to America: Kurdish Diaspora in the United States

Stan Thangaraj, City Col of New York– Navigating Empire(s) Through Religion and Culture: Muslim Kurdish American Women and Challenging Power(s)

Christian Sinclair, U Arizona–Infusing Media Rhythms into the Diasporic Space: Kurds and Media Production in the US

Amir Sharifi, CSU Long Beach– The Role of Heritage Language in Identity Construction Among Diasporic Kurds in the United States

For more information about the MESA meeting in DC, go to: mesa.arizona.edu