Master Thesis Defense: Melisa Mendoza Vasquez

DEMOCRATIC AUTONOMY: A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR TURKEY?

Melisa Mendoza Vasquez
Conflict Analyses and Resolution, M.Sc. Thesis, 2015

Thesis Jury
Fuat Keyman (Thesis Supervisor),Özge Kemahlıoğlu, Senem Aydın, Münevver Cebeci(Substitute Member)                        

Date &Time: May,13th, 2015 – 10:00

Place: FASS G048

Abstract

Territorial self-governance is an effective conflict resolution tool commonly used in

countries where ethnic groups make self-determination demands. The success of territorial

self-governance in resolving conflicts, however, largely relies on the way its institutional

design is arranged. Power-sharing mechanisms, at this point, emerge as central for the success

of the design. In the light of these theoretical considerations, this thesis examines in detail the

institutional design of Democratic Autonomy -the self-governance model proposed by the

Kurdish movement in Turkey for the resolution of the Kurdish conflict- and aims to evaluate

the extent to which the model can contribute to the resolution at issue. In order to conduct the

analysis, Democratic Autonomy model is situated in an analytical framework which can

manifest an effective tailor-made institutional design for a territorial self-governance

arrangement with essential power sharing mechanisms. In-depth interviews conducted with

prominent Kurdish actors and first hand documents obtained from the mainstream Kurdish

organizations make up the data utilized for the study. In accordance with the analysis carried

out, the thesis argues that Democratic Autonomy is a valuable project for an alternative

governance for Turkey. Yet, for the time being, it appears unable to offer a genuine

contribution to the resolution of the Kurdish conflict, as its institutional design has serious

inadequacies and ambiguities, thus making it unable to manifest an effective governance

model. Failing to put forth a strong substantiated design, it appears to remain more rhetorical

than concrete.