SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS

The article addresses the problem of self-determination of the Kurdish ethnos in Syria. Kurds are an indigenous people in this territory and for a long time lived within a single space within the Ottoman Empire. The artificial division of the Middle East into states in the interests of European powe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: M. Dyurre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MGIMO University Press 2017-11-01
Series:Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/726
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832579864513740800
author M. Dyurre
author_facet M. Dyurre
author_sort M. Dyurre
collection DOAJ
description The article addresses the problem of self-determination of the Kurdish ethnos in Syria. Kurds are an indigenous people in this territory and for a long time lived within a single space within the Ottoman Empire. The artificial division of the Middle East into states in the interests of European powers led to ignoring the interests and rights of the Kurdish ethnos. Self-organization of Kurds in Syria occurred gradually and mainly under the influence of external factors. The first one was the political activity of Kurds in neighboring countries, the second – the assimilation efforts of the Syrian authorities. Although the Kurdish population, basically, retained its identity, half a century of assimilation policy led to the erosion of the Kurdish ethnic enclaves in the north of the country. Moreover, self-organization and political mobilization of Kurds in Syria began to be accompanied by disagreements and splits of the main political forces. Kurdish political parties sought to act as a “third force” in the course of the civil war in Syria. However, disagreements prevented this, as well as certain pressure from Western countries, which pushed the Syrian Kurds to support the moderate opposition. The power vacuum in the north of Syria was able to fill the center-left party “Democratic Union”. This political force is in contact with the official Syrian authorities and, at the same time, receives US support. Created by the efforts of the “Democratic Union” the Kurdish autonomy in the north of the country provides stability in territories with the Kurdish and mixed populations, and also performs socio-economic functions. This makes the Kurdish autonomy an important element of negotiations about the future political structure of Syria.
format Article
id doaj-art-8f175623bb834462aabe61a8eaa67174
institution Kabale University
issn 2071-8160
2541-9099
language English
publishDate 2017-11-01
publisher MGIMO University Press
record_format Article
series Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
spelling doaj-art-8f175623bb834462aabe61a8eaa671742025-01-30T12:15:52ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602541-90992017-11-0104(55)18319310.24833/2071-8160-2017-4-55-183-193725SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTSM. Dyurre0Pravda.ru news agencyThe article addresses the problem of self-determination of the Kurdish ethnos in Syria. Kurds are an indigenous people in this territory and for a long time lived within a single space within the Ottoman Empire. The artificial division of the Middle East into states in the interests of European powers led to ignoring the interests and rights of the Kurdish ethnos. Self-organization of Kurds in Syria occurred gradually and mainly under the influence of external factors. The first one was the political activity of Kurds in neighboring countries, the second – the assimilation efforts of the Syrian authorities. Although the Kurdish population, basically, retained its identity, half a century of assimilation policy led to the erosion of the Kurdish ethnic enclaves in the north of the country. Moreover, self-organization and political mobilization of Kurds in Syria began to be accompanied by disagreements and splits of the main political forces. Kurdish political parties sought to act as a “third force” in the course of the civil war in Syria. However, disagreements prevented this, as well as certain pressure from Western countries, which pushed the Syrian Kurds to support the moderate opposition. The power vacuum in the north of Syria was able to fill the center-left party “Democratic Union”. This political force is in contact with the official Syrian authorities and, at the same time, receives US support. Created by the efforts of the “Democratic Union” the Kurdish autonomy in the north of the country provides stability in territories with the Kurdish and mixed populations, and also performs socio-economic functions. This makes the Kurdish autonomy an important element of negotiations about the future political structure of Syria.https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/726the kurdskurdistanpucsyrianational self-determination
spellingShingle M. Dyurre
SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
the kurds
kurdistan
puc
syria
national self-determination
title SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
title_full SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
title_fullStr SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
title_full_unstemmed SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
title_short SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE KURDES IN SYRIA: ORIGINS, FORMS AND INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS
title_sort self determination of the kurdes in syria origins forms and international prospects
topic the kurds
kurdistan
puc
syria
national self-determination
url https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/726
work_keys_str_mv AT mdyurre selfdeterminationofthekurdesinsyriaoriginsformsandinternationalprospects