Turkey's Kurdish Question (Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict) [Paperback]

Henri J. Barkey (Author), Graham E. Fuller (Author), Morton Abramowitz (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0847685535 | ISBN-13: 978-0847685530 | Publication Date: April 9, 1998 | Edition: First Edition

The Kurds, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Middle East, are reasserting their identity--politically and through violence. Divided mainly among Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, the Kurds have posed increasingly sharp challenges to all of these states in their quest for greater autonomy if not outright independence. Turkey's essentially democratic structure and civil society_ideal tools for coping with and incorporating minority challenge_have so far been suspended on this issue, which the government is treating almost exclusively as a security problem to be dealt with by force. For the West the situation in Turkey is particularly significant because of the country's importance in the region and because of the economic, political, and diplomatic damage that the conflict has caused. If Turkey fails to find a peaceful solution within its current borders, then the outlook is grim for ethnic and separatist challenges elsewhere in the region. This study explores the roots, dimensions, character, and evolution of the problem, offers a range of approaches to a resolution of the conflict, and draws broader parallels between the Kurdish question and other separatist movements worldwide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

By far the most serious and convincing study of Turkey’s Kurdish question to date. (New York Review Of Books )

This is a first-class analysis of Turkey's continuing Kurdish problem. (Hargrove, Erwin C. Political Science Quarterly )

Barkey and Fuller, two eminent scholars, deal with one of the most important problems in the Middle East—the challenge of the Kurdish nationalist movement to the states of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria.... This first-rate book is must reading for all scholars, policy advocates, and general readers interested in the Middle East. (Choice )

Amply covers the existing research-field. (Eva Østergard-Nielsen The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest )

The author's observations are certainly useful for those who are genuinely interested in Turkey's wellfare. (South European Society and Politics )

Remarkably documented, this is a perceptive and courageous study of a crucial problem for the future of Turkey. It offers options for a lasting settlement. (Eric Rouleau )

Scholars, journalists, and policy-makers, as well as those interested in the field of conflict resolution or prevention, will find this well-written, cogently argued, and perceptive book very useful. (International Journal Of Millddle East Studies )

About the Author

Henri J. Barkey is associate professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University.

Graham E. Fuller is senior analyst at the RAND Corporation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; First Edition edition (April 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847685535
• ISBN-13: 978-0847685530
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,442,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars There is a United Turkey wit Turks, Kurds, Circasians, Laz, January 16, 2000

By 

Tim Dinch (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turkey's Kurdish Question (Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict) (Paperback)

Tukey is objective on this issue is solid and clear, that is all the Kurds,and other ethnic people who live in the Turkish territory are part of the multi-ethnic Turkish society. This will always remain that way and Turkey never will be divided whatsoever the consequences. I disagree with the author on the issues such as Kurdish issue and Kurdistan, there is no Kurdistan.In fact, there is no Kurdish issue in Turkey, but there is a terrosist issue, that is the bloody PKK and its followers. All the Turks and the Kurds are part of this multi-entegrated society. Tim Dinch California

41 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Avarage, May 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Turkey's Kurdish Question (Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict) (Paperback)

This is probably the one of the best books about Kurds out there, but it still does not do justice to a complex issue. I am a Kurd and I don't want to live in an ethnically-pure state or anything like that. Most Kurds are happy in democratic Turkey, and there is no real Kurdish problem here...

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Burden of a State, January 31, 2001

By 

Alaturka (Northport, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Turkey's Kurdish Question (Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict) (Paperback)

What does one do when there are more nations than states? Henri Barkey and G. Fuller have done a great service to the citizens of Republic of Turkey with this excellent book. It is a snap shot of all of the key factors, players and parameters surrounding this deadly conflict that causes tremendous suffering and drags an otherwise a very dynamic, open and vibrant society down a dark path. They have avoided detailed historical anlysis, assigning blames, pointless ethnic and cultural debates and focused on what scenarios are likely to take these two nations who have no choice but share a common destiny, a country and a flag, to a peaceful coexistence. The book's time line seems to go back and forth a bit due to different times it may have been edited or modified and there are some small but still dissapointing typos, but otherwise a very professionally done investigation. The authors know their topic and there are plenty of references. They clearly point out that it is quite feasible to embark on a path to solving this conflict within the boundries of what is acceptable to both parties. They point out that the solution of the problem is also closely tied to some key and overdue structural reforms that would address a whole range of other obstacles that hinder the progress of Turkey in the global scene. Contrary to what is implied in the book though, for most Turks, being a Turk is not an ethnic identity. Most Turks are well aware that such classification is not possible in the first place as almost all races, religions and ethnic groups are well represented among the citizens of Turkey, including Kurds. There are those extreme nationalists of course who may believe in a "theoretically" pure nation, but most people do not take these concepts seriously. Keep in mind that Turks, however one may define them, were the last ones to fall victim to the craze of nationalism, even that was mostly by strong prodding by Ataturk. Secondly, the authors repeat the age old "neglected South East" excuse among the serious sins of the Turkish establishment. This notion is quite outdated and contradicts the facts. Turkish State, hard data proves, has been enormously subsidizing this region and its predominantly Kurdish population, at the expense of all other tax payers. Some of the largest public works projects (in the World!) and investments have targeted this area and mostly without the support of international financial institutions. It is also ironic that while preaching decentralization, State is also accused of not "doing" enough. More weight should have been given to how the minority issues have been exploited shamelessly by Western powers and Russia, at the expense of enormous suffering, to rip apart the Ottoman Empire at the end of 19th century. The memory and pain of this is burned deep in the Turk's psyche. It is also source of much frustration and cynisism that countries of numerous Europeans who tend to preach Turks about these matters have explicitly racist definitions of citizenship on their books. In the final analysis, the solution is actually simpler and easier than imagined. It does not require any fundemental changes (not in this aspect anyway) to the existing constitution which is already mostly blind to religion and ethnicity. It does require the state to curb its unlimited powers. It does require a civil dialog. It does require Kurds to put Turks' minds at ease about their very understandable concerns. It also requires that no foreign elemements be allowed into this matter. Given how little sacrifice and leadership it would have taken to step away from this deadly spiral, it really is a shame that things got this far in the first place.