Who Are the Kurds?
The Kurds are an Iranian people numbering 35-45 million—the world's largest ethnic group without a nation-state. They inhabit a contiguous mountainous region (Kurdistan) spanning Turkey (15-20 million), Iran (8-10 million), Iraq (6-8 million), and Syria (2-3 million), plus a global diaspora of 1-2 million. They speak Kurdish, comprising several related Iranian languages: Kurmanji (Northern), Sorani (Central), and Pehlewani/Southern varieties. Kurds have inhabited these mountains for millennia; despite numerous uprisings and international promises, independent Kurdistan remains unrealized. Their struggle for self-determination shapes Middle Eastern politics.
Ancient Heritage
Kurds likely descend from ancient Iranian peoples of the Zagros Mountains; some scholars connect them to the Medes of antiquity. Kurdish identity crystallized in medieval period, though tribes remained politically fragmented. The region's rugged terrain hindered centralized authority and preserved distinct identity. Kurds played significant roles in regional history—Saladin, who recaptured Jerusalem from Crusaders (1187), was Kurdish. Various Kurdish emirates existed under Ottoman and Persian suzerainty. The Treaty of Sèvres (1920) promised Kurdish autonomy; the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) abandoned this, dividing Kurdistan among Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Persia.
Struggle for Rights
Kurdish history since 1923 is one of suppression and resistance. Turkey denied Kurdish existence ("Mountain Turks"); language and culture were banned. The PKK insurgency (1984-present) has killed 40,000+. Iraq's Anfal campaign (1988) used chemical weapons against Kurds—genocide killing 50,000-100,000. In Iran, Kurdish movements were crushed. In Syria, 300,000 Kurds were denied citizenship. Each country's Kurds have followed different trajectories—from armed struggle to political participation to autonomy—divided by geography, ideology, and competing interests. Unity remains elusive despite shared identity.
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurds achieved greatest autonomy. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), established after 1991 no-fly zone and formalized in 2005 constitution, has its own government, military (Peshmerga), and international relations. The region prospered from oil revenues; Erbil became a boom city. Peshmerga forces fought ISIS, gaining international respect. The 2017 independence referendum won 93% but was rejected internationally; Iraq, Turkey, and Iran imposed punishing measures. Internal divisions between PDK and PUK parties weaken Kurdish unity. The dream of independence receded, but KRI remains the closest Kurds have come to statehood.
Contemporary Kurds
Modern Kurds face varying conditions. Turkey's Kurds have gained cultural rights but peace process collapsed (2015); conflict continues. Syria's war allowed Kurds to establish autonomous Rojava, but Turkish invasions threaten gains. Iran suppresses Kurdish activism amid protests. Iraq's Kurds maintain autonomy but face economic crisis and political division. The PKK and its affiliates remain designated terrorists by Turkey and Western allies, complicating diplomacy. Kurdish diaspora maintains political activism. How Kurds navigate regional power politics, internal divisions, and the tension between armed struggle and accommodation shapes this stateless nation's future.
References
- McDowall, D. (2004). A Modern History of the Kurds
- Gunter, M. M. (2011). Historical Dictionary of the Kurds
- Natali, D. (2005). The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran