Zaza Kurds of Turkey

Turkey, at the very intersection between Europe and the Middle East, comprises a plethora of ethnicities and minority groups. There is however very little official data about many of its chief minorities. The Zazas are one such group: a Kurdish people speaking the Zaza dialect, and living as a distinct people in the eastern Anatolian provinces. Mehmet S. Kaya here investigates all aspects of Zaza life: kinship, economy, culture, identity, gender relations, patriarchy and religion. His fieldwork among local communities in the Zaza area sheds light upon the ways in which this Middle Eastern minority has maintained its way of life and cultural identity in today's globalised society. This book provides valuable insights into a little-known people, and will be of interest within the fields of Middle East Studies, Islamic Studies, Minority Studies and Diaspora Studies.

Review: '[This] is an original and significant contribution to a field of study that is in dire need of [attention] - The book is a timely description which from an ethnographic perspective addresses aspects of traditional Kurd society in a modern transition period. It - describes themes that are rarely addressed when modern regional developments are discussed [such as] kinship, trade relations, and the interface between traditional and modern forms of social and political organization. Other important are as that are addressed include religion, gender and modern social relationships - The book makes a significant contribution to these research themes by providing a view of the interrelations and challenges that Zaza Kurds face today.' - Leif Selstad, Associate Professor, University of Stavanger, Norway 

 

1. Introduction 2. Kinship 3. A tribal society 4. A patriarchal society 5. A society with its own authorities 6. Reciprocity among the Zaza population 7. The economic system of the Zaza society 8. Turkey, a state in conflict 9. Culture and identity 10. Gender relations, family and division of labour 11. Religion, collectivism and individualism