Turkish Security Discourses and Policies: The Kurdish Question

Abstract

A multidimensional problem with lengthy history, the so-called “Kurdish Question” has been one of the most important domestic security challenges that Turkey has had to face since the early 1980s. In this paper, the Kurdish issue is put in the broader framework of Turkey’s security concept and foreign policy, along with explanation of the specifics and dynamics in Turkish politics. The relations between the Kurdish groups in the Middle East region were taken in consideration, as well as the emergence of the jihadist group of ISIL. A special focus on security perceptions and results of EvoCS project is presented at the beginning.