Kurdish nationalism and competing ethnic loyalties

Abstract

During the past decade and a half, Kurdish nationalism has scored some remarkable political successes — be it at a terrible cost. For most of our century, Kurdish nationalism remained the concern of a relatively small educated elite, that from time to time entered into ephemeral alliances with local chieftains or religious leaders, resulting in short-lived rebellions of limited geographical scope. In recent years, however, Kurdish nationalism has become a mass movement in all parts of Kurdistan, with an appeal that transcends state boundaries as well as regional differences.