ABSTRACT
The Turkish political regime can be divided into three different periods, where some constant variables can be observed. During the first decades of the Republic, between the 1920s and 1960s, the main parameters of the regime were territorial consolidation and the fear of Islamic reaction. Both provoked violence, particularly towards Kurds and non-Muslims. The second period, from the 1960s to 1990s, is precisely characterised by the generalisation of a violent context both physical, especially through military regimes, and symbolic, especially by class and ethno-class oppression. Finally, the third period, from the end of 1990s until today, is witnessing a ‘comeback’ of structural tensions between Kurds and Turks, and between ‘Muslims’ and ‘seculars’. Thus, Turkish politics is driven by these structural fears, almost all related to identity tensions, even if the regime is technically a Democratic Republic.
