Kurdish-Turkish War Escalates

by Robert Olson On March 15, Duran Kalkan, one of the main leaders of the PKK, stated that March would be a Kurdish Spring, at least for the Kurds in Turkey. Kalkan announced that the PKK would extend its war… Continue Reading

War Intensifies Between Turkey and the Kurds

by Robert Olson The leadership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) promised that its response to the devastating war waged since July against it—and its political arm, the Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK)—would be attacks in western Turkey, including Ankara… Continue Reading

The March Madness of Turkish Politics

by Robert Olson Turkey’s politics in March 2016 continues to be tumultuous. The most important developments center on three pivotal issues. The first is relations between the government led by the Justice and Development party (AKP) and Kurdistan Workers’ Party… Continue Reading

Looking at the Kurdish Question in Turkey

by Robert Olson In this article I want to discuss some of the dimensions of Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu’s speech at Mardin Artuklu University on Feb. 5, 2016 at a meeting titled “Fraternity Gatherings Mardin Conference.”