Turkey warns Kurds over

independence bids, Individual

level analysis

Submitted by:
Saher Sajjad (20011587-007)
Namra Azhar (20011587-022)
Baber Ali (2001157-029)
Muhammad Sufyan Haider (20011587-030)
Syeda Zarnab Asif (20011587-055)
 Introduction

 The relationship between Turkey and the Kurds, one of the largest ethnic
minorities in the country, has been marked by tension and conflict for
decades.

 Kurds are an ethnic group with a distinct language and culture, and are
primarily concentrated in the southeastern region of Turkey, as well as
in parts of Iraq, Syria, and Iran.

 Turkish government viewed Kurdish separatism as a threat to its

territorial integrity and national identity.

 The Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group founded in the late
1970s, has been at the forefront of the Kurdish struggle for independence
 Various Presidents and their
Policies towards Kurds

 Turgut Özal: His government intensified military operations against the
PKK and other Kurdish groups, and also imposed restrictions on
Kurdish-language education and cultural expression.

 Necmettin Erbakan: Erbakan was known for his Islamist and nationalist
views. His government intensified military operations against the PKK,
and also cracked down on Kurdish-language education and cultural
expression.

 Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Erdogan & his government has also been
criticized for its heavy-handed approach towards Kurdish political
expression and dissent. The Turkish government's recent military
operations in Kurdish areas of Syria have also drawn international
condemnation.
 Turkey warns Kurds over
independence bids

 In September 2017, the KRG held a controversial referendum on
independence, which was opposed by the Turkish government, among
others. Following the referendum, Turkey threatened to cut off oil exports
from the KRG and to take other measures to pressure the region to abandon
its bid for independence.

 In October 2019, the Turkish military launched a major operation in northern

Syria to push back against Kurdish militias in the region, which it considers
to be affiliated with the PKK. The operation, which was widely condemned
by the international community, led to the displacement of thousands of
Kurds and the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

 In February 2021, Erdogan warned that Turkey would not allow Kurdish
militants to gain control of areas in northern Iraq where Turkish troops are
deployed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakings hands with General Staff
of Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, in a handout picture by Turkish
President’s Press Office, taken on August 16, 2017. (Turkish President’s Office via
AFP)
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that a joint
operation with Iran against Kurdish militants was “always on the agenda,”
 Individual level Analysis on the
Issue

 Erdogan's personal beliefs and motivations may be influenced by his ideology
and political aspirations. Erdogan is known for his nationalist and Islamist
views, and he has been criticized for cracking down on Kurdish autonomy in
Turkey.

 Erdogan is known for his strong and charismatic leadership style, which
suggests that he may have a dominant and assertive personality.

 Erdogan has also been described as having a strong emotional attachment to

his political ideology and beliefs.

 Additionally, Erdogan's background as a conservative Muslim and his

emphasis on Turkish nationalism suggest that he may be high in the
personality trait of agreeableness, which could lead him to prioritize the
interests of his in-group over those of outsiders or minority groups.