Narratives of the history of the Ottoman-Kurdish Bedirhani family in imperial and post-imperial contexts

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This dissertation explores the Ottoman-Kurdish Bedirhani family and its history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on identity formation in the context of the Ottoman Empire's collapse. It examines the family’s experiences as a case study to understand the dynamics of post-imperial identity amidst the rise of nationalisms in the Middle East. The research highlights the strategies employed by family members to navigate the transition from imperial to post-imperial contexts, analyzing the narratives they constructed about themselves and their history, as well as the networks they engaged with. The study argues that the end of the Ottoman Empire did not lead to an immediate replacement of imperial identities with nationalist ones; instead, identity formation is portrayed as a complex, long-term process with multiple pathways beyond Kurdish nationalism. By examining individual trajectories of Bedirhani family members, the research reveals diverse strategies and coping mechanisms that emerged post-World War I and after the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Unlike existing studies focusing on politically active relatives, this work highlights lesser-known family members who did not engage in Kurdish nationalist politics, offering insights into alternative life paths and the evolution of narratives surrounding more prominent relatives within the broader context of 20th-century Kurdish historiography.