Kurdistan Workers Party News & Analysis
Kurds: Dream of Independence, Settle for Autonomy
With practical considerations putting the dream of an independent state increasingly out of reach for Kurdish people in the Middle East, many groups are recalibrating their goals toward greater autonomy.
Why Are Kurdish and Palestinian Struggles Treated Unequally?
Despite their shared desire for self-determination, the plight of the Palestinian people attracts far more media and academic attention than that of the Kurds.
Turkish-Kurdish Conflict at a Turning Point: What’s Next?
The PKK’s unilateral disarmament marks a potential turning point in Kurdish relations with the Turkish state, but challenges remain going forward.
Boon or Bust? Regional Kurds After the Fall of Assad
Examining the political contexts and linkages between Kurdish movements in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey – all of which will be impacted by the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
Turkey’s Erdogan Calls for Early Elections in 2018
A nationalist resurgence and disorganized opposition have Erdogan rolling the dice on early elections. Will his gamble pay off?
Trump to Sink Further into the Syria Quagmire?
Weeks after reportedly telling his generals to draw up plans for a withdrawal from Syria, the US president finds himself being pulled back in.
Global Forecast (03-29-2018)
Frantic US-China trade talks get underway, Turkey eyes Iraq’s Sinjar region, and Russian diplomats are expelled throughout the Western world.
Focus Shifts to Manbij as Turkey Moves into Afrin Unopposed
An attack on Manbij would put President Erdogan in direct conflict with the US military and its Syrian allies.
Backgrounder: Turkey in the Erdogan Era
This backgrounder recounts the long road to Turkey’s seminal 2017 referendum, and what to expect next from this key NATO ally that is still undergoing dramatic political shifts.
Euphrates Shield Failing to Marginalize Syria’s Kurds
An ambitious new force expansion and U.S. and Russian deployments in Kurdish-held territory all suggest that Turkey’s Euphrates Shield is not marginalizing the YPG.
Iraqi Kurdistan’s Rise as an Independent Energy Player
Iran’s energy engagement is serving to solidify Iraqi Kurdistan’s shift towards greater autonomy.
Global Forecast (03-22-2016)
A key security summit in the U.S., David Cameron’s cabinet in revolt, and Syria’s Kurds quietly assemble a state.
Analysis: AKP’s Surprise Election Win in Turkey
Recep Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has retaken its parliamentary majority in a shock result that might mean big changes for Turkey’s foreign policy.
Is Turkey In Over Its Head?
Ankara’s decision to intervene directly in Syria further complicates an already complex battlefield dynamic, and it risks repercussions for Turkey’s internal and external security.
The Impact of a Turkish “Safe Zone” in Northern Syria
A “safe zone” in northern Syria could be a game-changer, but not necessarily a welcome one for the fight against Islamic State.
New Regional Alliances Emerging in Fight against Islamic State
The dynamic in the Middle East is changing. Recent events have pushed Turkey towards a more activist position against Islamic State (ISIS) and Kurdish forces, which is shaping the response of other regional players, and leading to new alliances that will impact the future of Syria, Iraq, and the wider region.
Analysis: Kurdish Peace Process at Risk as Turkey Bombs the PKK
This past week has seen a sea change in Turkey’s foreign policy, one that threatens to upend the last bastions of stability in an otherwise chaotic region.
Turkish Troops Aim to Counter Kurds, Not Islamic State
The Turkish government is considering deploying troops to create a “buffer zone” along its southern border with Syria, and it is clear that the intended target of such a move would be the Syrian Kurds, not Islamic State.
Turkey Takes Aim at the Kurds
With all eyes on Kobane, the Turkish government decided to launch on attack not on the Islamic State fighters besieging the town, but the Kurds desperate to defend it.
Turkey Local Elections 2014: A Referendum on Erdogan
Examining how upcoming local elections in Turkey will help decide the political fate of Prime Minister Erdogan.