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The mere mention of the
name Kurdistan evokes a lot of passion. For Kurdish
nationalists, who for centuries have nourished the
notion of an independent nation-state that will
bring together all the world's persecuted Kurds, it
is an ideal to be pursued.
For the countries where Kurds are minorities
(Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran) and have for
centuries lived under the spectre of oppression,
Kurdistan is not a notion to be entertained. Sample
this: One of the authors, while crossing into Iraq
from Turkey, had his laptop computer impounded by
Turkish border guards. The guards then meticoulsly
erased all references to the name Kurdistan in all
the documents they could find.
This book specifically focuses on Iraq's Kurds. In
the aftermath of the first Gulf War, they alone are
the only Kurds who have come close to living the
dream of Kurdistan.
The authors contend that at various points in Iraq's
history, the Kurds, who live in the northern parts
of the country, have managed to negotiate a series
of deals with the central government that granted
them regional autonomy or self rule.
This in turn served as a means for fueling the
notion of an independent homeland. Recall that after
the first Gulf War, the U.S. declared the Kurdish
region in northern Iraq a no-fly zone to deter
Saddam Hussein from bombing them to oblivion.
Embolded by this, the Kurds set up the apparatus for
self government and pretty much ran their own
affairs like a sovereign nation.
This book is a collection of scholarly arguments
written by many authors with differing views. Most
importantly, they contest the notion that Iraq is
one nation with one people.
They also have different views on the role of
Kurdistan in Iraq. Some envisage autonomy for the
Kurds, others prefer different forms of a federal
arrangement, while others postulate outright
sovereignity for a Kurdistan in Iraq.
But just as the story of Iraq does not inspire
optimism, the authors anticipate many different
possibilities for the rest of the country. With the
reality that Iraq could slide into civil war, it
will be interesting to see how the Kurds will stake
their future in the quagmire that ensues.
If history is defined as the study of the past in
order to learn about the present and future, then
this book is a must-read for those wishing to get an
understanding of the complexities facing Iraqi Kurds
today.
The Future of Kurdistan in Iraq Edited by Brendan
O'Leary, John McGarry, and Khaled Salih
University of Pennsylvania Press
Click Here to BUY The Future Of Kurdistan In Iraq (Hardcover) by Brendan O'Leary (Editor)
www.embassymag.ca
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