#315: Kurds & demand for Kurdistan
All you need to know for UPSC
1. Who Are the Kurds?
Ethnic Identity: Kurds are an Iranian ethnic group, the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East (after Arabs, Persians, and Turks), with an estimated population of 25–35 million.
Geographical Spread: Predominantly inhabit the mountainous region of Kurdistan, spanning:
Southeastern Turkey (largest Kurdish population, ~43%)
Northern Iraq (autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, ~18%)
Northwestern Iran (~31%)
Northeastern Syria (~6%)
Smaller communities in Armenia, Georgia, and Lebanon.
Cultural Unity: United by language (Kurdish dialects: Kurmanji, Sorani), culture, and shared history, despite no standard dialect.
Religion: Mostly Sunni Muslims (Shafi’i school), with minorities adhering to Alevism, Yarsanism, Yazidism, and Sufism.
UPSC Relevance: Understand Kurds as the world’s largest stateless ethnic group, a key point for questions on ethnic conflicts or statelessness.
2. Historical Context
Pre-20th Century: Kurds trace their identity to the 7th century with the adoption of Islam. Notable historical figure: Saladin, the Kurdish warrior who founded the Ayyubid dynasty.
Ottoman Era: Kurds enjoyed semi-autonomous emirates but faced centralization efforts in the 19th century, eroding self-governance.
Post-WWI Betrayal:
Treaty of Sèvres (1920): Promised an autonomous Kurdish state but was never implemented due to Turkish opposition led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Treaty of Lausanne (1923): Redrew Middle East boundaries, omitting Kurdish statehood, dividing Kurds among Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
20th Century Struggles:
Republic of Mahabad (1946): A short-lived Soviet-backed Kurdish state in Iran, collapsed within a year.
Repression in Turkey (bans on Kurdish language, culture), Iraq (chemical attacks under Saddam Hussein), and Iran (post-1979 Islamic Revolution).
UPSC Relevance: Focus on the Treaties of Sèvres and Lausanne for World History and their impact on modern nation-states. Questions may test the consequences of colonial border-drawing.
3. Geopolitical Significance
Statelessness and Nationalism:
Kurds seek an independent Kurdistan or greater autonomy, a century-old movement sparked by the Ottoman Empire’s collapse.
Lack of unified leadership and tribal/linguistic divisions hinder statehood.
Key Conflicts:
Turkey: The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), founded by Abdullah Öcalan in 1978, has waged a Marxist-inspired insurgency since 1984, resulting in ~40,000 deaths. Designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and EU. PKK announced disbandment in 2025, marking a potential shift.
Syria: The People’s Protection Units (YPG), linked to PKK, control parts of Rojava (northeastern Syria). Key US allies against ISIS but face Turkish attacks (e.g., Operation Peace Spring, 2019).
Iraq: Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraqi Kurdistan enjoys autonomy, rich in oil, but tensions with Baghdad persist (e.g., 2017 independence referendum).
Iran: Kurdish groups like PJAK face repression; Iran fears secession.
Role Against ISIS: Kurdish forces (e.g., Peshmerga in Iraq, YPG in Syria) were pivotal in defeating ISIS, gaining Western support but complicating relations with Turkey.
UPSC Relevance: Study the Kurdish question as a case of ethnic conflict, regional instability, and great power rivalry (US, Russia, Turkey, Iran). Questions may focus on Turkey-Syria dynamics or India’s neutral stance.
4. India’s Position and Interests
Neutral Stance: India avoids supporting Kurdish separatist movements due to its emphasis on sovereignty and ties with Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.
Economic Ties:
India imports oil from Iraqi Kurdistan and has a consulate in Erbil (opened 2016).
Indian workers are employed in Kurdish regions in sectors like oil, steel, and construction.
Humanitarian Aid: India sent medical supplies to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2025, reflecting soft diplomacy.
Strategic Concerns: Kurdish instability affects India’s energy security and diaspora in the Middle East.
UPSC Relevance: Questions may ask about India’s Look West Policy, energy security, or its balancing act in Middle East conflicts. Link Kurdish oil resources to India’s diversification strategy.
5. Socio-Cultural Aspects
Kurdish Culture: Rich in oral traditions (storytellers, minstrels, bards), music (epic ballads like Lawiks), and festivals like Newroz (Persian New Year).
Women’s Role: Progressive gender equality movements; Kurdish women fighters (e.g., YPJ in Syria) are globally recognized. Challenges remain (e.g., honor killings, FGM in Iraq).
Repression: Kurds face cultural suppression (e.g., Turkey’s bans on Kurdish language, Syria’s denial of citizenship pre-2011).
UPSC Relevance: Cultural suppression can be linked to human rights questions in GS Paper II or essays on statelessness and identity.
6. Recent Developments (2024–2025)
PKK Disbandment (May 2025): Abdullah Öcalan called for the PKK to dissolve, potentially easing Turkey-Kurd tensions but conditional on Kurdish rights.
Syrian Kurds: Post-Assad regime shifts may affect Kurdish autonomy in Rojava.
Iraqi Kurdistan: Continued oil disputes with Baghdad and India’s humanitarian aid highlight its stability.
Iranian Kurds: Ongoing repression amid internal instability in Iran.
UPSC Relevance: Stay updated via The Indian Express, The Hindu, or CivilsDaily for current affairs. Questions may test recent shifts in Kurdish politics or their impact on Middle East stability.
7. UPSC Exam Strategy
Prelims:
Memorize key facts: Kurdish population, countries, treaties (Sèvres, Lausanne), PKK, YPG, KRG.
Map-based questions: Locate Kurdistan, Zagros Mountains, Erbil, Diyarbakır.
Example MCQ: “Which ethnic group inhabits a mountainous region straddling Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran?” (Kurds)
Mains:
GS Paper II: Analyze Kurdish statelessness in the context of self-determination, regional stability, or India’s foreign policy.
Example: “Discuss the geopolitical implications of the Kurdish question in the Middle East and its relevance to India’s energy security.”
GS Paper I: Link to World History (post-WWI treaties, nation-state formation).
Essay: Topics like “Statelessness and Global Order” or “Ethnic Conflicts in West Asia” may include Kurds.
Answer Writing Tips:
Use a PESTEL framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) to structure answers.
Include examples: PKK ceasefire, YPG’s role against ISIS, India’s Erbil consulate.
Balance perspectives: Turkey’s security concerns vs. Kurdish autonomy demands.
Sources:
NCERTs: Class XII Political Science (Contemporary World Politics) for ethnic conflicts.
Standard Books: “International Relations” by V.N. Khanna; “India’s Foreign Policy” by Rajiv Sikri.
Current Affairs: The Indian Express, CivilsDaily, IAS Gyan, Vajiram & Ravi notes.
Previous Year Questions: Check UPSC Prelims (2016 ethnic groups question) and Mains (2018 CPEC, 2022 Central Asia).
8. Key Points to Memorize
Population: 25–35 million, largest stateless ethnic group.
Region: Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Armenia (Zagros and Taurus Mountains).
Treaties: Sèvres (1920, promised statehood), Lausanne (1923, denied statehood).
Groups: PKK (Turkey), YPG (Syria), Peshmerga (Iraq), PJAK (Iran).
Iraqi Kurdistan: Only autonomous Kurdish region, oil-rich.
India’s Role: Neutral, economic ties via oil and Erbil consulate, humanitarian aid.
Recent Event: PKK disbandment (2025).
9. Practice Questions
Prelims:
Which of the following treaties promised autonomy to the Kurds but was never implemented? A) Treaty of Versailles B) Treaty of Sèvres C) Treaty of Lausanne D) Sykes-Picot Agreement Ans: B) Treaty of Sèvres
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is an autonomous region in which country? A) Syria B) Iraq C) Turkey D) Iran Ans: B) Iraq
Mains:
“The Kurdish struggle for autonomy reflects the challenges of statelessness in the modern nation-state system.” Discuss with reference to their historical and geopolitical context.
How does the Kurdish question impact India’s strategic interests in the Middle East? Suggest measures to strengthen India’s engagement with the region.