Insight Turkey
Insight Turkey
Challenging ideas
On Turkish politics and International affairs

Author

Kerim Yıldız

Expert in international human rights law and minority rights, and is Director of DPI (Democratic Progress Institute), based in London.
Kerim Yıldız
Turkey’s Kurdish Conflict: Pathways to Progress
October 1, 2012
This paper discusses the Kurdish conflict in Turkey, within the context of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. What progress has been made since the election of the ruling AK Party and the creation of a Democratic Opening in Turkey? What remains to be done for a long-lasting solution to the conflict to occur? In examining the various factors at play in the conflict, the reasons for the failure to achieve a long-term solution, despite opportunities presenting themselves, are considered. It is argued that the “classic approach” to the conflict that has been consistently applied by successive Turkish administrations has not been successful, and alternative approaches are suggested. While a number of obstacles stand in the way of progress, it is possible to overcome these, if a political solution is applied to this political problem. Addressing the conflict by military means will not lead to a sustainable resolution and non-violent, democratic means of resolution must therefore be found in order to pave the way for long-lasting peace in Turkey.

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