Student Publications [Scholarly]

Rethinking Collective Resilience Under Oppression Through Kurdish Understandings of Power and Resistance

Document Type

Book Chapter

Abstract

In this chapter, we question the concepts of collective resilience and collective vulnerability from a pluriversal lens by underlining the dynamics of victimization and resistance that unfold through hegemonic oppression, the power of the oppressed, and the strategies of resistance, as exemplified in the Kurdish resistance. We argue that collective resilience and collective vulnerability are integral to the oppressed groups’ survivance embedded in sociocultural, political, historical, and geographical contexts. This survivance is defined by victimization and resistance, carved into collective memory, and implicated in critical consciousness among oppressed communities. To exemplify this, we draw on our recent work on the understandings of Kurdish power and resistance among Kurds living in Turkey, Bakurê Kurdistan, and Germany. Colonial racism against Kurds unveils the systematicity of victimization, while the endurance of Kurdish existence manifests resistance. Furthermore, Kurdish critical consciousness enables these communities to assess reflexively the sources of resilience and vulnerability by discussing potentials and challenges to reach liberation and to demand honorable conditions for all Kurds. Accordingly, we suggest that i) collective resistance may not always exclusively guarantee collective resilience, ii) a critical consciousness against collective victimization can help us distinguish collective resistance from collective resilience, and iii) collective vulnerability can accompany resilience. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Yasemin Gülsüm Acar, Blerina Këllezi and Sandra Penić.

Publication Title

The Power of Collective Resilience Against Political Violence and Repression

Publication Date

2025

First Page

104

Last Page

123

ISBN

9781040365939

DOI

10.4324/9781032708492-9

Keywords

collective memory, condition, Kurdistan, power, systematicity, victimisation

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