Hegemonic masculinity and terrorism: the case of the PKK and Abdullah ocalan

Turk H. B.

CRITICAL STUDIES ON TERRORISM, vol.13, no.2, pp.258-279, 2020 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 13 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/17539153.2019.1708039
  • Journal Name: CRITICAL STUDIES ON TERRORISM
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete
  • Page Numbers: pp.258-279
  • Keywords: Gender, hegemonic masculinity, terrorism, the PKK, Abdullah ocalan, FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBERS, GENDER, PATTERNS, VIOLENCE, JIHAD
  • Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Recent years have seen an increase in the study of the relationship between gender and terrorism. This article analyzes the relationship between hegemonic masculinity and terrorism through the case of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan or PKK) and its leader Abdullah ocalan. Using the method of narrative analysis, the study first examines the concept of hegemonic masculinity. The study attempts to make sense of how the concept of hegemonic masculinity operates within the PKK. To achieve this goal, the study demonstrates the major functions of hegemonic masculinity within terrorist organisations. Accordingly, it is argued that the perspective of masculinity studies can be used to gain a better and highly instructive understanding of political violence and terrorism.