Kurdish activists with roots in Northern Kurdistan seek to combine their commitment to the Kurdish cause with work, family life and other everyday responsibilities. Ethnographic research by Emine Igdi shows that their political engagement is deeply intertwined with their daily lives. Although activists often share the same ideals and views, the ways in which they put these into practice in their everyday lives vary considerably. Their sense of responsibility towards the Kurdish people can also lead to moral dilemmas and feelings of guilt.
For Kurdish activists in the Netherlands, activism involves far more than taking part in demonstrations or political gatherings. Their commitment also influences their choices at work, how they allocate their time and money, and how they raise their children.
‘One important concept in this context is welatparêz. This Kurdish term refers to a sense of belonging, solidarity and moral responsibility towards the Kurdish people and Kurdistan. Activists give expression to this concept in different ways, depending on their personal circumstances,’ explains researcher Emine Igdi.
Combining political engagement with personal obligations often leads to tensions. When serious events occur in Kurdistan, many activists feel a responsibility to take action. At the same time, they have jobs, childcare responsibilities and financial commitments to meet. For some, an ongoing asylum procedure is also a factor.
Igdi explains: ‘Activists are constantly trying to balance their political ideals against their everyday responsibilities. Whatever choice they make, they may sometimes feel that they are falling short in another area of their lives. For them, activism is not simply a political activity; it is part of everyday life.’
Conflicts abroad affect people in the Netherland
Although the research focuses specifically on Kurdish activists with roots in Northern Kurdistan, its findings may also offer insights into activism within other diaspora communities. People with family ties to, or roots in, other conflict-affected regions may also feel a strong connection to events in their countries of origin. However, the experiences of these groups were not examined in this study.
‘My research shows that political engagement cannot be understood separately from a person's personal history, family ties and social circumstances,’ Igdi explains.
These insights may be relevant to professionals working with people from migrant or refugee backgrounds. The research illustrates how experiences of conflict, loss and migration can shape everyday life and influence the choices people make. According to Igdi, this calls for an awareness of the different personal circumstances in which people find themselves. ‘If we focus solely on visible behaviour or political activities, we often miss the experiences and responsibilities that lie behind them.’
Why activists take to the streets
Political events in Kurdistan can prompt Kurdish activists in the Netherlands to take part in demonstrations, organise solidarity actions or express their support in other ways. According to Igdi, understanding these forms of activism requires looking beyond the visible political actions themselves.
Igdi explains: ‘Behind participation in a demonstration, there are often personal experiences, family ties and feelings of responsibility. At the same time, the ways in which people express their commitment differ because their personal circumstances and opportunities vary.’
The research also shows that women and men do not always have the same opportunities to participate in political activities. In particular, the combination of caring duties, family responsibilities and paid work can affect the scope activists have to engage in politics.
One of the study's key conclusions is that activists often share an understanding of what it means to stand up for the Kurdish cause, while their everyday choices and opportunities differ considerably. As a result, the ideal of the dedicated activist frequently comes into conflict with the realities of everyday life.
Ten years of research into Kurdish activism
For her research Igdi conducted ethnographic fieldwork among Kurdish activists in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2023. She attended demonstrations, meetings and activities organised by Kurdish associations, primarily in the Netherlands and occasionally elsewhere in Europe.
In addition to making observations, she conducted interviews and group discussions. She also analysed conversations in Kurdish-language social media groups. In total, the researcher spoke to more than fifty activists from a range of backgrounds, including labour migrants, children of labour migrants and recent refugees.
Some participants were followed over a period of several years. This enabled Igdi to identify how their everyday lives and activism changed over time.
Her own background as a Kurdish woman, former journalist and activist gave her access to the community under study. At the same time, this proximity required her to reflect continually on her position as a researcher.