CHP's approach to the Kurdish problem within the framework of populist understanding: The exampleof Kılıçdaroğlu

The transformation of global politics and the competitive nature of political systems have significantly increased the importance of populism. Emerging in the 19th century, populism has become prominent across various political systems and remains highly relevant today. Despite frequent discussion in academic literature and political discourse, populism lacks a consensus definition, making it challenging to label political actors or events as populist. Its expression varies by historical and geographical context, often differing between left-wing and right-wing movements. Therefore, populism is often seen as a thin-centered ideology rather than a comprehensive political doctrine. This study examines whether Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's political approach, especially after 2017 as the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), toward the longstanding Kurdish Issue in Turkey represents "Kurdish popular populism" or genuine political advocacy for Kurdish rights. The analysis focuses on key events and documents, including the "Tigris Dialogues" by the Dicle Social Research Center (DITAM) in July 2023, CHP's visit to the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in March 2023, and the party's official declaration "CHP's Perspective on Turkey's Kurdish Issue: 22 Questions 22 Answers." Media discourses related to Kılıçdaroğlu and the Kurdish issue are also reviewed. By analyzing these sources, the study aims to determine whether Kılıçdaroğlu's politics under left-wing populism reflect a democratic effort for conflict resolution or a strategic electoral policy.