Comparative Kurdish politics in the Middle East : actors, ideas, and interests

Annotation This edited volume introduces the political, social and economic intra-Kurdish dynamics in the Middle East by comparatively analyzing the main actors, their ideas, and political interests. As an ethnic group and a nation in the making, Kurds are not homogeneous and united but rather the Kurdish Middle East is home to various competing political groups, leaderships, ideologies, and interests. Although many existing studies focus on the Kurds and their relations with the nation-states that they populate, few studies analyze the Kurdish Middle East within its own debates, conflicts and interests from a comparative perspective across Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. This book analyzes the intra-Kurdish dynamics with historically-grounded, theoretically-informed, and conceptually-relevant scholarship that prioritizes comparative politics over international relations Front Matter ....Pages i-xviii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Iraqi Kurdistan’s Statehood Aspirations and Non-Kurdish Actors: The Case of the Turkomans (Emel Elif Tugdar)....Pages 3-25 Kurdish Political Parties in Syria: Past Struggles and Future Expectations (Bekir Halhalli)....Pages 27-53 Front Matter ....Pages 55-55 Human Security Versus National Security: Kurds, Turkey and Syrian Rojava (Serhun Al)....Pages 57-83 Kurdish Nationalist Organizations, Neighboring States, and “Ideological Distance” (F. Michael Wuthrich)....Pages 85-112 Statehood, Autonomy, or Unitary Coexistence? A Comparative Analysis of How Kurdish Groups Approach the Idea of Self-Determination (Cenap Çakmak)....Pages 113-133 Front Matter ....Pages 135-135 Islam and the Kurdish Peace Process in Turkey (2013–2015) (Ina Merdjanova)....Pages 137-162 Ethnic Capital Across Borders and Regional Development: A Comparative Analysis of Kurds in Iraq and Turkey (Serhun Al, Emel Elif Tugdar)....Pages 163-183 In Search of Futures: Uncertain Neoliberal Times, Speculations, and the Economic Crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan (Umut Kuruuzum)....Pages 185-200 The Stateless and Why Some Gain and Others not: The Case of Iranian Kurdistan (Idris Ahmedi)....Pages 201-225 Back Matter ....Pages 227-235 Iraqi Kurdistan's Statehood Aspirations And Non-kurdish Actors: The Case Of The Turkomans / Emel Elif Tugdar -- 2. Kurdish Political Parties In Syria: Past Struggles And Future Expectations / Bekir Halhalli -- 3. Human Security Versus National Security: Kurds, Turkey And Syrian Rojava -- 4. Kurdish Nationalist Organizations, Neighboring States, And Ideological Distance / F. Michael Wuthrich -- 5. Statehood, Autonomy, Or Unitary Coexistence? A Comparative Analysis Of How Kurdish Groups Approach The Idea Of Self-determination / Cenap Çakmak -- 6. Islam And The Kurdish Peace Process In Turkey (2013-2015) / Ina Merdjanova -- 7. Ethnic Capital Across Borders And Regional Development: A Comparative Analysis Of Kurds In Iraq And Turkey / Serhun Al And Emel Elif Tugdar -- 8. In Search Of Futures: Uncertain Neoliberal Times, Speculations, And The Economic Crisis In Iraqi Kurdistan / Umut Kuruuzum -- 9. The Stateless And Why Some Gain And Others Not: The Case Of Iranian Kurdistan / Idris Ahmedi -- Conclusion. Emel Elif Tugdar, Serhun Al, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.