Colonial Nexus: Control and Surveillance, Deforestation and Securitisation of Dams Through the Military Infrastructural Projects in Northern Kurdistan

ABSTRACT This study is focusing on the colonial governmentality techniques practised by the Turkish state under the guise of national security, which have subjugated Kurdish cities to a state of emergency for decades. The most widespread example of these practices implemented under the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, in Turkish, AKP) governments in the name of national security or ‘counterterrorism’ is the rapid increase in the number of high‐security military outposts ( Kalekol ) and checkpoints. This paper focuses on the interaction between deforestation activities and hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) constructions with Kalekols in conflict‐ridden regions where a low‐intensity war is ongoing and the right to national self‐determination based on democratic autonomy is being demanded.