Why Can’t We Be Friends? Exploring Fragmentation within Transborder Nationalist Movements

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2017
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Haverford College. Department of Political Science
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Bi-College users only
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Abstract
Why do transborder nationalist movements (TNMs) fragment into sub-state groups with distinct self-determination objectives? Theories of balancing dictate that the unification of a non-state group allows greater potential for success. However, cases, such as the Kurds, demonstrate counterintuitive group divisions in transborder nationalist movements’ struggles towards selfdetermination. Although a large array of literature analyzes aspects of transborder nationalist movement fragmentation—from ethno-politics, to nationalist movements, self-determination, transnational kin, and civil conflicts—very little scholarly work examines the more than 100 empirical cases in which all of these aspects interact in combination with one another. Extrapolating from the literature, I put forward four independent variables: state treatment of the transborder nationalist movement within its borders, degree of cross-border interaction, regional relations, and international pressures. Using a case study of the Kurds in Greater Kurdistan (Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey), I test my seven hypotheses to identify which of the independent variables act as causal mechanisms for transborder nationalist movement fragmentation. I examine the unification (1927) and break-up (1946) of the Kurds through the pan-Kurdish Xoybun League, and the following creation and collapse of the Republic of Mahabad (January 1946-December 1946). Using an original timeline of Kurdish history and process-tracing methods, my analysis shows support for my theory of host-state treatment, but remains indeterminate regarding the influence of cross-border interactions as I have measured them. This thesis primarily acts a first step in empirically testing my theoretical framework. Future work remains necessary in order to fully examine the true scope of this project, and comprehensively test a multitude of case studies.
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