The Kurdish Nationalist Movement in the 1990s

In The Kurdish Nationalist Movement in the 1990s leading scholars on the history and plight of the Kurds systematically lay out the case that the Kurdish Question looms as one of the largest threats to peace and stability in the Middle East for the coming decades. With the majority of Kurds living within its borders, no country faces this threat more squarely than Turkey, whose concept of a unified, cohesive nationhood —in which the existence of ethnic minorities is not acknowledged— makes this potential powderkeg more difficult to manage than elsewhere.

Separate sections examine the development of the movement in the 1980s and explore its influence on Turkey's foreign, domestic, and human rights policies, in the end questioning the viability of the Turkish state as presently constituted.

Robert Olson, professor of Middle East and Islamic history at the University of Kentucky, is the author of several books, including The Ba'ath in Syria, 1947-1982, and The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism, 1880-1925.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments / vii
Note on Spelling and Names / viii
English Translations of Political Parties and Organizations in Turkey / ix
Maps / x, xi
Introduction / 1

Part I
The Development of the Kurdish Nationalist Movement in Turkey since the 1980s
1. The Development of the Kurdish Nationalism Movement in Turkey since the 1980s / 9
Gülistan Gürbey
2. Turkey's Kurdish Problem In The 1990s: Recent Trends / 38
Aram Nigogosian
3. Kurdish Infighting: The PKK-KDP Conflict / 50
Michael Gunter
Part II
The Kurdish Nationalist Movement and Its Impact on Turkey's Foreign Policy
4. Under the Gun: Turkish Foreign Policy and the Kurdish Question / 65
Henri Barkey
5. The Kurdish Question and Turkey's Foreign Policy Toward Syria, Iran, Russia and Iraq since the Gulf War / 84
Robert Olson
6. More Apparent than Real? The Impact of the Kurdish Issue on Euro-Turkish Relations / 114
Philip Robins
Part III
The Kurdish Nationalist Movement and Its Impact on Turkey's Domestic Politics and Human Rights Policies
7. Political Crisis and the Kurdish Issue in Turkey / 135
Hamit Bozarslan
8. The New Democracy Movement in Turkey: A Response to Liberal Capitalism and Kurdish Ethnonationalism / 154
Robert Olson and Yücel Bozdağlıoğlu
9. Nationalism and the Rule of Law in Turkey: The Elimination of Kurdish Representation During the 1990s / 173
Mark Muller

List of Contributors / 200
Index / 202

Acknowledgments

An edited book is only as good as all of its contributors. As editor of this book, I was fortunate to have a constellation of internationally recognized scholars who believed in the project and agreed to write chapters, for which I am deeply appreciative. They have made an exciting book that illustrates for the first time the most pressing problem in the Middle East in all of its significance. I also want to acknowledge our computers, which have, through electronic mail, made such internationally collaborative projects possible and easier.

The University Press of Kentucky receives accolades for agreeing to pubhsh this book in a handsome format. The University Press staff responded with alacrity and grace to all of the queries and hurried demands of an anxious author. My friend
and colleague. Art Wrobel, agreed to my pleas that he proofread chapters on short notice, and he did so without too much complaint. Gyula Powers, another friend, who also happens to be one of the world's best cartographers, insisted that the book have "two good handmade maps." Lynn Hiler did much to faciUtate the word processing as well as to help me with the necessary commands to do mine. Without her good humor and help, I would not have been able to meet press deadlines.
I am most gratefiil to Aram Nigogosian, who first brought up the idea of pubUshing an edited book on this subject and who shared his ideas throughout the collection and editing process. Lasdy, I am gratefiil to the faculty and administration of the University of Kentucky, who awarded me with a University Research Professorship for 1995-96 that reheved me of teaching duties and permitted me to undertake the task of editing this work.

© Copyright  1996 by The University Press of Kentucky

Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.

Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
00 99 98 97 96 54321

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Kurdish nationalist movement in the 1990s : its impact on Turkey and the Middle East / Robert Olson, editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index.
ISBN 0-8131-1999-5 (cloth:alk.paper)—ISBN 0-8131-0896-9 (pbk.:alk. paper)
1. Turkey-Politics and government-1980- 2. Kurds-Turkey-Politics and government. 3. Partiya Karkere Kürdistan. 4. Turkey Foreign relations-1980- 5. Nationalism-Turkey. I. Olson, Robert W.
DR603.K87 1996
956.103—dc20 96-21501
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America