This thesis covers the characteristics of transnational and diasporic identity formation in a stateless context for the Kurdish people focusing particularly on the Kurdish diaspora in Sweden. The aim is to redefine statelessness as a concept by focusing on how it is handled and used by the Kurdish people to define their identity rather than being only a cause of suffering and hardship. By mainly focusing on de facto statelessness rather than de jure statelessness it become possible to analyze statelessness as a social phenomenon which can act as a source for both hardship and unity. Using the theories of diaspora and transnationalism connected to the concept of statelessness, the importance of statelessness as an integral part of the Kurdish transnational diasporic identity formation is analyzed.  

By using the method of qualitative content analysis, a large number of documents were collected and analyzed for the five sections of the analysis. These documents range from academic articles and books to newspaper articles and social media posts.  

Each section of the analysis is divided into subsections that cover one case each. Each case is meant to demonstrate different means of identity formation that the Kurdish people use to create and maintain their diasporic identity. A background is presented regarding the situations for the Kurdish people in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Furthermore, cases of association life in Sweden as a root for identity formation is covered which is followed by an analysis of diasporic political mobilization demonstrating how Kurdish people in Sweden react to attacks against their people in spite of geographical distances. The analysis is completed by discussing the involvement of Kurdish people in Swedish politics. First, a section covers the general presence of Kurdish people being directly involved as Swedish – Kurdish politicians in Sweden and how such a position can be used to further their cause for support of the Kurdish people both in Sweden and abroad. The next section covers the particular case of Sweden’s NATO application and the reactions of the Kurdish people in Sweden. 

The conclusion is that an important part of the Kurdish diasporic identity formation is based upon culture, language, common ancestral homeland, suffering and lack of belonging to a state. Statelessness is often thought of a being a clear example of living in constant uncertainty. No state is your home, you do not fully belong anywhere. By using statelessness as a part of their identity the Kurdish people can reclaim the concept and use it for empowerment thus stripping away the negative connotations of and redefining the concept.