The Egalitarian King?

Abstract The Kurdish movement has often been touted as an egalitarian struggle, and, in many ways, rightly so. However, the movement's relation to its undisputed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, remained relatively unexamined. This article seeks rectify this oversight by investigating how Öcalan informs life. To do so, employs a frame of analysis that utilizes anthropological theory on kingship. Drawing secondary sources and fieldwork Turkish Iraqi Kurdistan, argues works resembles king for several key respects, greatly influencing structure. contends applying may bolster theoretical apparatuses studying revolutionary movements nuance polar understandings hierarchy egalitarianism.