Determination of the main causes underlying the Kurdish issue. Consideration of both internal and regional transformations, such as the Arab uprisings, changed the foreign policy perspective of Ankara. Evaluation of the security policy of Turkey.
Аннотация к работе
People were hopeful to solve the Kurdish issue; especially when Erdogan in 2005 talking in Diyarbekir, the unofficial capital of the Kurds of Turkey addressed the Kurdish question to be solved. The appearance on that time and later the enhancement of formal and informal negotiations from Oslo to Amerli, reassured the experts to conclude that the AKP government views this old and unsolved problem from a different perspective and dealing with different and modern rationality. A rationality that looks beyond military solutions to the sociological roots and foundations of the problem and at the end presents a new model for the question. AKP managed to end the Kemalist political domination in the context of the national-global financial crises. Turkeys political structure shaped by the Kemalists backed by Turkish military during their decades of political domination leading up to the election victory of the AKP. In order to make the political ascendancy of Kemalism irreversible, the AKP subject to bring wide structural changes in the political-administrative system as well as military-security policies in Turkey. AKP needed more and more seat in the Parliament. Adherent to neo-Ottomanism, AKP started negotiations for reconciliation with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In addition, Erdogan promised to recognize the rights of the Kurds. Thus, AKP attracted the votes of Kurds along with low-income classes and socio-culturally more conservative Turkish society. The beginning of the democratic uprisings known as the Arabic Spring provided an ‘’unprecedented opportunity’’ and a new leverage to strengthen economic and political power of the AKP to quickly sketch the action plan of the ideology known as neo-Ottomanism in the region. Nevertheless, the transformations caused by the initial move of the AKP on both sides (the Kurdish question and involvement specifically in Syria) was different than AKP’s expectations and restraining or redefining the right direction quickly became the goal of AKP. Consequently, the Turkish government is again in war with the PKK and currently in a cold war with the HDP (People’s Democratic Party) the first ever pro-Kurdish party to surpass the highest 10% threshold and enter to the parliament. The Kurdish issue is one of the most controversial topics specially during the AKP government (2002 till now), it’s definitely puzzling and neglected because different parties and concepts like APK, Kurds, and security/foreign policies are involved. 2. Historical Background In order to examine the situation in Turkey, more specifically the Kurdish issue, it is important to know the historical background of the issue and how has the Kurdish question evolved throughout the history. To do this, we need to take the following factors into account. 2.1 Why Turkey Matters The modern Republic of Turkey replaced the Ottoman Empire that ruled from Anatolia to the Middle East and Balkans for centuries. However, because of their imperialistic policies and pressure from the Young Turks, the nationalist freedom movement, the Ottoman Empire collapsed. The last Caliph of the empire however, tried to modernize but it was too late, the internal problems, vast polyglot population, and wars made the circumstances impossible for reforms. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the father of Turks) established the new Republic of Turkey based on values like laicism, republicanism, Kemalism and nationalism in 1923. Ataturk became the first president of Turkish republic and he was re-elected as president in 1927, 1931, and 1935 (Yildiz 2005: 11) Ataturk’s image in public opinion is highly controversial within Turkish community. Ataturk and his beliefs are highly regarded and respected among people with secularistic or atheistic beliefs. Because they believe that if it was not of Ataturk’s mass reforms, Turkey would have had the situation of Iraq, Syria or one of Islamic countries in the Middle East. Reforms that aimed to strengthen the nation building, political participation of men and women, and change the socioeconomic structure of the country for better (Kili 1980: 384). On the other hand, for Islamists and neo-Ottomans specifically among the AKP followers Ataturk’s status is controversial. As a result of abolishing the caliphate, Westernization of Turkish alphabet, prohibiting religious schools, and even changing the Azan (call to prayer for Muslims) from Arabic to Turkish and many other crossing of the red line angered the Islamists in Turkey. Ataturk which Turks believe to be a mastermind in Military had structure the state and military system to easily influence and even dominate the state. Although the Kurdish people’s contribution to Ataturk’s achievement of independence was instrumental but latter on he pledged to create a centralized and unified country under a solely homogenous identity for all ethnic groups in the country. Thus, he introduced the “Turkishness” project whereas all the citizens of the Turkish Republic would h