The Kurds and the Middle East: History, Politics & Identity

About this course

This course aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the Kurdish people, a critical component of the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape, focusing on their political, social, and cultural structures in Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Recent developments in the region have underscored the necessity of understanding the status and influence of the Kurdish population. Upon completing the course, participants are expected to acquire foundational knowledge about the Kurds as key actors in the political histories of Iran, Iraq, and Syria, as well as an understanding of the political formations that have emerged within these contexts.The course is structured into six lectures:The first lecture examines the current status of the Kurds in Iran, their legal standing, and their role within Iran’s political history.The second lecture delves into the main Kurdish political organizations in Iran, including Komala, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, the Kurdistan Freedom Party, and the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK).The third lecture focuses on the Kurds in Iraq, highlighting the political landscape in the Kurdistan Region and analyzing key actors such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),  the Gorran Movement, the New Generation Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK).The fourth lecture continues the exploration of Iraqi Kurds, focusing on Kurdish uprisings and the formation process of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) following the First Gulf War.The fifth lecture shifts attention to Syria, addressing the role of the Kurds in modern Syrian history, the status of the Kurds during the Ba’ath Party era, the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and Turkish military operations in the region.The sixth and fi