Very enlightening, thank you! It's always been hard to see how Turks and Kurds could grow without respecting each other and collaborating. Let's hope you're right and that it's a positive first step. Whether we're deep in electoral trees or geopolitical forests, nobody's out of the woods yet.
Exactly. You’ve spent a lot of time on this issue too, Hugh. Curious how you see the prospects of truly being ‘out of the woods.’ Might be worth a Substack post from you. I would love to read your take. XX
I totally get why Ankara wants this deal, but much less what's in it for the PKK.
I remember how happy the Kurdish population was during the cease fire and negotiations, while the PKK was secretly preparing to take control of the region. That didn't end well. So perhaps this is a way out without having to admit defeat.
Great, thanks. I largely agree w/ your reading in this thread and have been writing my thoughts along similar lines already, e.g., regional dynamics taking primacy over domestic ones in deciding the timing of the process from both the Kurdish and Turkish perspective.
Very enlightening, thank you! It's always been hard to see how Turks and Kurds could grow without respecting each other and collaborating. Let's hope you're right and that it's a positive first step. Whether we're deep in electoral trees or geopolitical forests, nobody's out of the woods yet.
Exactly. You’ve spent a lot of time on this issue too, Hugh. Curious how you see the prospects of truly being ‘out of the woods.’ Might be worth a Substack post from you. I would love to read your take. XX
Very interesting analysis, Ezgi. Thanks!
I totally get why Ankara wants this deal, but much less what's in it for the PKK.
I remember how happy the Kurdish population was during the cease fire and negotiations, while the PKK was secretly preparing to take control of the region. That didn't end well. So perhaps this is a way out without having to admit defeat.
Is the book in question 'Frontline Turkey'? I have been looking for longer reads on the failure of the 2013-2015 peace process.
Yes it is. You can get it as an ebook, I believe.
Great, thanks. I largely agree w/ your reading in this thread and have been writing my thoughts along similar lines already, e.g., regional dynamics taking primacy over domestic ones in deciding the timing of the process from both the Kurdish and Turkish perspective.