Indoctrination in the Disguise of Active Citizenship: An Analysis of Political Socialisation Process through Ideological Political Education in the Case of PYD

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Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the ideological political education process through the concept of political socialization for indicating how the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist organisation Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) indoctrinates the PKK ideology to the young people under its administration and how it creates ideological members for the continuation of its regime. Design/Methodolgy: This research is mainly based on the textual analysis. In this regard, the PKK material in English, Western media outlets, pieces of think-tanks and reports of the PYD’s local bodies for the Public Relations and the existing literature over the education under the PYD-controlled areas were analysed. Findings: Findings indicate that the PYD operationalises ideological political education through educational system, teachers, curriculum and textbooks in its language centres, academies, universities, primary and secondary schools to create ideological members who will be loyal to its regime. Findings also demonstrate that this type of political education is closely connected to the approach of Siegel’s (1965) concept of political socialization who perceives it as a process of creating active or well-functioning individuals for the continuation of political systems. Limitations: The fact that the research is mainly based on the textual analysis. Conducting interviews with teachers in the region could have increased the reliability and decreased the limitations of this research. However, the PYD is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK and rightfully both are designated as a terrorist organisations by Türkiye and interacting with these people mean interacting with the elements of terrorism. Originality/Value: Since this research conceptualises the indoctrination or ideological political education process in the context of the political socialization, it contributes to the role of education in the process of political socialization through a new case of the PYD.