Ethnic Kurdistan in the context of 21st century Geopolitics

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the Kurdish issue from the perspective of its development prospects in the geopolitical aspect. The material contains the author's analysis of possible solutions to the Kurdish issue from the perspective of different states and supranational blocs, as well as factors that contribute to and hinder the resolution of the Kurdish issue in the foreseeable future. The material contains information about what factors influence the positions of the largest regional and international players on the analyzed issue. The creation of a Kurdish state seems unlikely; the alternative is, at a maximum, granting Kurdish communities maximum autonomy, at a minimum, changing their legal status in countries, primarily in Turkey, where their position is most vulnerable. The constant deterioration of the situation of the Kurds and their exclusion from the legal agenda in Turkey is called a possible cause of the civil war. The Kurdish issue cannot be resolved militarily, and possible solutions are individual for all affected countries, which, however, themselves suffer from internal crises (Syria, Iraq), and Iran, which lives under Sharia law, also suffers from sanctions pressure. In addition, there is no unity within the Kurdish communities themselves, which further complicates the political struggle. At the moment it is possible to distinguish long-term and short-term prospects for resolving the Kurdish issue, both from the position of the people themselves and other interested actors. The authors also analyze the complicating circumstances, which include the interest of external actors (such as the United States and NATO as a whole) to use the Kurds to solve their own geopolitical problems in the region; internal contradictions among the Kurdish leaders themselves, which does not allow reaching a consensus on a number of organizational issues, and a difficult economic situation.