Conflict, Democratization, and the Kurds in the Middle East: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and SyriaIn Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, central governments historically pursued mono-nationalist ideologies and repressed Kurdish identity. As evidenced by much unrest and a great many Kurdish revolts in all these states since the 1920s, however, the Kurds manifested strong resistance towards ethnic chauvinism. What sorts of authoritarian state policies have Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria relied on to contain the Kurds over the years? Can meaningful democratization and liberalization in any of these states occur without a fundamental change vis-à-vis their Kurdish minorities? To what extent does the Kurdish issue function as both a barrier and key to democratization in four of the most important states of the Middle East? While many commentators on the Middle East stress the importance of resolving the Arab-Israeli dispute for achieving 'peace in the Middle East,' this book asks whether or not the often overlooked Kurdish issue may constitute a more important fulcrum for change in the region, especially in light of the 'Arab Spring' and recent changes in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. |
Contents
| 1 | |
SECTION I Authoritarianism and the Kurds | 15 |
SECTION II Democracy in Divided Societies | 108 |
SECTION III The Kurds and Democratization | 169 |
SECTION IV Regional Issues | 247 |
Bibliography | 283 |
| 311 | |
| 316 | |
Other editions - View all
Conflict, Democratization, and the Kurds in the Middle East: Turkey, Iran ... David Romano,Mehmet Gurses No preview available - 2014 |
Conflict, Democratization, and the Kurds in the Middle East: Turkey, Iran ... David Romano,Mehmet Gurses No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
Abdullah Öcalan accessed on January activists al-Qamishli Ankara armed conflict authoritarian autonomy Baghdad Barzani border Cambridge central civil coalition communities Constitution cultural democracy democratic dominant economic elections emergence Erbil established Ethnic Conflict ethnic groups federal governorates Human Rights indigenous insurgency International Iran Iran’s Iranian Iraq’s Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurds Islamic Republic Kirkuk Kurdish areas Kurdish demands Kurdish issue Kurdish language Kurdish National Council Kurdish Nationalist Movement Kurdish parties Kurdish political Kurdish population Kurdish question Kurdish region Kurdistan Regional Government Kurds in Syria KurdWatch leaders Mahabad majority Maliki Massoud Barzani Middle East military mobilization negotiations Öcalan official opposition organization parliamentary peace percent PJAK president Prime Minister protests reforms regime Region of Iraq repression role rule security forces Semdinli Shiite Simko strategy Sulaimaniya Susurluk Syria territorial tion tribal Turkey Turkey's Turkish University Press uprising violence Western Kurdistan