This paper identifies how collective memory, historical trauma, and experiences of systemic oppression shape diasporic understandings of the Kurdish question. While participants recount a shared history of violence and marginalization across Türkiye, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, they also articulate evolving visions for peace centered on autonomy, democratic reforms, and human rights protection rather than statehood. By examining how Kurdish diasporic narratives preserve historical memory, negotiate identity, and articulate political visions, this paper shows how conflict narratives are actively maintained, adapted, and reimagined in diasporic, transnational contexts.
Author Bio:
Julia studied Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Fribourg and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Changing Societies at the University of Basel. She has worked as a social pedagogue with unaccompanied minor refugees and in development cooperation with private foundations. She has also undertaken study residencies abroad in Arizona, Peru and Guatemala.
Context:
This working paper on conflict narratives within the Kurdish diaspora in Switzerland was developed as part of a research lab focused on narrative research, culminating in a seminar paper under the supervision of Dr. Julián Arévalo. My interest in the Kurdish diaspora stems largely from both personal and professional experiences with the topic. Over time, I have had the opportunity to engage with various perspectives on the Kurdish question, sparking my interest in the complex and evolving narratives surrounding it.
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