The Kurds: The History of the Middle Eastern Ethnic Group and Their Quest for Kurdistan

by Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents On September 29, 2017, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that the United States did not recognize the decision of the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum. “The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq.” For all of the international community’s efforts to support and provide safe haven to refugees as well as religious and ethnic minorities, it is the Kurdish people who have had a particularly difficult situation within this realm. Following skirmishes with the Iraqi government and international condemnation of the move, the Iraqi Kurds are not retracting the independence request at the moment. The Kurds lack a well-defined boundary--by international standards--and broach the lands of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. All of these neighboring countries have had a contentious relationship with the Kurdish people. The Kurds have different languages, different religious traditions, and different cultures. And much like the Jewish people and the Palestinians, they seek an independent homeland in which they have the right to self-determination. Due to the difficult political and military situation in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East, the Kurds have yet to successfully create their own nation with recognized borders. And it would not be an easy task; while the Kurds of the different countries in this region all collectively refer to themselves as “Kurds,” there are many differences among these groups. Admitting that the Kurds deserve an independent state also means a loss in territory for Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq which these countries heavily rely on for economic and strategic military reasons. The United States and its allies’ refusal to recognize the Kurdish referendum appears to be based on the fact that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is still prominent in the region. They maintain that ISIS and other extremist groups look forward to instances of instability and a call for Kurdish independence would throw Iraq into even more turmoil. The U.K. Ambassador to Iraq stated that “now [was] not the right time” to hold the referendum. This begs the question of whether there ever will be a right time. This is the question that the Kurdish people have asked the international community throughout history. By delving deeper into their ethnic, religious, and political history, it is possible to understand the larger issues of statelessness and the striving for independence. At the same time, the relationships between the Kurds and the ruling regimes of the day have changed and altered the political landscape in the Middle East. The Kurds’ relationship with European and American governments also led to a certain expectation that outside support would somehow usher in the creation or at least the support of the Kurdish state, yet that has not come to pass. Assessing the violent treatment of the Kurds by governments opposed to their independence will also illustrate the horrors and struggles of the Kurdish community over the years. All of this history culminates in the historic referendum in September 2017 and its implications for the region. The The History of the Middle Eastern Ethnic Group and Their Quest for Kurdistan   examines the group and the contentious issues surrounding them. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Kurds like never before.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 25, 2017

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I was not aware that the Kurds are not a people united by religion, language or even ethnicity.  They seek a homeland that would affect Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq, as they border each of these countries.   There really doesn't seem to be a solution to this tragedy.  It is an incredibly complex problem.

It is shocking to learn that Kurds have no citizenship rights in Turkey (no right to identification documents, the right to go to school, etc.)There are between 25 - 35 million Kurds living in the Middle East.  Some are nomadic and others are settled peoples. Another surprising thing is that they are of diverse religions; mostly Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrian, Christian, Jewish, and Shi'a Muslims.  They believe they are descended from Iranic tribes; their origins have been traced back some 10,000 years.  The very famous Saladin (a great regional leader and fighter against the Christian Crusades) was a Kurd.

The jumping around in the focus of the text was unsettling.  I thought the discussion was not as clear as it could have been. 

[Ginger Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good brief overview of Kurdish history. It gives some background on the situation with the Kurds in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. It also explains why when one group of Kurds gets some sort of autonomy, the other three countries get nervous. However, there is little discussion of some of the brutality inflicted on the Kurds by the four governments. I suspect that is because this is intended as an overview to explain how we got to the present.

I would recommend this book for those who don't know a lot of Kurds and Kurdistan. If you have some knowledge of the current political situation, it will help you understand the historical context of Kurdish culture and how ingrained it is in the Kurdistan area. However, if you are looking for a detailed history of the Kurds, you may want to look for a book that more in-depth. However, it is a quick read and the information is useful.

[Lawrence Cutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Summary of the Kurds

Having visited Iraqi Kurdistan in 2014, I found this book to be extremely interesting and "spot on" regarding their culture, history, etc. It is a concise, wonderful summary of the Kurdish people and helps explain their aspirations for a nation state to include parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.

[Swervo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written & Easy to read

Hats off to this writer who has clearly done a lot of research into the Kurds. The book was short and concise. A very interesting read being Kurdish myself.

[Michael Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only 37 pages with print so small I had to read with a magnifying glass. The book is more like a primer of the history of the kurds and the regions and empires of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. For a quick overview the book did it's job.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief but good summary of the Kurds, past and present. Anyone wanting to know about the Kurds can get through this overview in an hour or two.

[David Den Boer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much needed knowledge

Giving a brief insight into the Kurdish people was needed for myself and reminded me of other groups that are stateless like the Basque.

[Mellissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️’s Very brief overview is the Kurdish quest for a homeland. This is a good read for those trying to wrap their brains around the complicated landscape that is middle eastern politics.

[Michael Sheen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short summary, not too much detail though.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important information, but fairly general and topical.