The Making of Paramilitarism in Turkey

This edited volume explores the history and evolution of Turkish paramilitarism from the late Ottoman period to the 2010s. Aimed at undergraduates, postgraduates, scholars, and non-specialists, it offers an interdisciplinary analysis of paramilitary forces’ influence on Turkey’s historical, political, social, legal, and visual landscapes. The book examines key issues such as the Armenian Genocide, anti-communist operations, Alevi pogroms, and anti-Kurdish violence, and delves into how state-sponsored paramilitary groups have shaped the nation’s modern history. Through case studies, examining key paramilitary groups such as Grey Wolves, Village Guards, and JİTEM, contributors reveal the deep-seated connections between paramilitarism and statecraft in Turkey.

With a unique focus on the suppression of marginalised groups, including Armenians, Kurds, and Alevis, the book presents groundbreaking research on how paramilitarism has been instrumental in state violence, both domestically and internationally. By incorporating political, economic, and social dimensions, this volume offers a fresh perspective on the enduring role of paramilitary actors in shaping Turkish state policies and provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics behind informal violence in Turkey’s history.

Özlem Has is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Defence Studies at King’s College London. Her research interests include state formation, political violence, paramilitarism, and mercenarism. Her key publications include studies on paramilitaries in the Kurdish–Turkish conflict and private military companies.

Ayhan Işık is an independent researcher and an interdisciplinary political historian specializing in 20th- and 21st- century political violence, paramilitarism, and Kurdish Studies. He is author of a book titled Turkish Paramilitarism in Northern Kurdistan: State Violence in the 1990s that was published 2024.