Why Erdogan Removes and Replaces Kurdish Mayors (with Dr. Lisel Hintz)

When we talk about the ‘Kurdish question’ in Turkey, two of the major problems being discussed are authoritarianism and anti-Kurdish racism. Kurdish people face state-sponsored discrimination and violence on the basis of their ethnic identity. They also lack access to meaningful democratic avenues by which to effect political change. 

A timely new paper by Dr. Lisel Hintz and Harun Ercan, “Permissive prejudice in localized authoritarian consolidation: evidence from Turkey's municipalities,” looks at how these two dynamics interact, with broader lessons for the struggle for democracy and equality in Turkey and worldwide. The paper is focused on the tactics that the Turkish state uses to crack down on political opposition at the municipal level, looking at the similarities and differences in tactics used against pro-Kurdish mayors and mainstream Turkish opposition mayors.

On this episode of the Kurdish Peace Podcast, KPI Director of Research Meghan Bodette speaks with Dr. Hintz about the findings of the paper, how they explain current developments in Turkish politics, and what lessons there are for those seeking to promote peaceful, pluralist democracy in Turkey and other autocratic contexts.