Khaled Salih
Kurderna i det gamla och det nya Mellanöstern

Engelsk summary:

This article concists of two parts. The first part discusses the conditions for the Kurds after the partition of the Ottoman Empire which resulted in the creation of new states more than 80 years ago. Here, the article focuses on the policies towards the Kurds by different governments within the framework of thematic strategies of diversity characterized by assimilation, displacement and genocide. The next part takes its point of departure in the changes which took place in the Middle East: The Turkish attempts to become member of the European Union and the demands from the Union concerning a more thorough democratization in Turkey, the American decision about regime change in Iraq, new negotiations in order to create a new federal state, and increased demands for democratization in Iran and Syria. In the “new” Middle East, new strategies are expected which differ from the ones in the “Old” Middle East. The Kurdic question can function as a case study concerning the changes of the states focusing on negotiations, tolerance towards diversity, and democratic and peaceful coexistence in stead of degradation, assimilation, violence, displacement, and genocide.