Assyrian Identity Politicization: A study concerning Assyrian identity politics in the context of the conflict in Syria and Iraq 2012-2017

Abstract: This thesis is a single-case study of Assyrian identity politicization in the context of the conflict in Iraq and Syria from 2012 to 2017. The thesis investigates to what extent and in which manner that a politicization of Assyrian identity can be said to have occurred by reviewing empirical data concerning the events of the period and analyzing statements from three Assyrian militias. The Islamic State invasion of the Khabur River Valley in Syria and the Nineveh Plains in Iraq can be identified as watershed moments for Assyrian identity politicization in the context of the conflict. The theoretical framework consists of three criteria that are utilized to investigate the level of identity politicization that can be said to have occurred. These criteria are mainly based on a theory by Stuart Kaufman and augmented by theories by Raffaele Marchetti, Vamik Volkan and Daniel Bar-Tal. From the investigation, a complex picture of Assyrian identity politicization emerges, and while the result supports the assessment that an identity politicization has occurred to a large extent, in many other aspects a considerably more nuanced approach in using identity in political rhetoric by the Assyrian groups can be observed as well.