"Prospective-Turks" or "Pseudo-Citizens": Kurds in Turkey

This article explores the public images and citizenship status of Turkish-citizen Kurds in Turkey. Kurds in Turkey mostly have been seen as prospective-Turks and accordingly have been subject to the assimilationist practices of citizenship throughout the Republican period. However, recent signs suggest that this image and status of the Kurds are not as secure as they once were. Kurds are now perceived by many as pseudo-citizens. A historical reading of citizenship practices in Turkey indicates that this change in the Kurds' image may be accompanied by a change in their citizenship status and that they may now be subject to the discriminatory practices of citizenship. The article concludes with an argument as to why such a fundamental change has taken place in the image and status of Kurds in Turkey.