The Kurdish diasporic mobilization in France: From a restricted political national frame to a translocal sphere of contention? The case of Kurds in Marseille, France

Abstract

Based on a sociological case study on Kurdish mobilization in Marseille, France; this article aims to expose the intricate dynamics that affect the transformation of mobilization forms and strategies in diaspora. By conceiving the mobilization process as a career, it aims to analyze the evolution towards different situations like the host country’s politics or the critical events occurred in homeland or diaspora. In addition to these cornerstones increasing the legitimization of the Kurdish movement at local and global levels, this article aims to point out the emergence of a hybrid sphere of contention, which allows the inclusion of new actors in the transnational space of mobilization such as anarchist, anti-fascist activist networks. Acting together with traditional forms of contentious practices such as rallies and petitions; these hybrid mobilization strategies contribute to the durability and extension of the scope of diasporic action.