Causes of the Conflict

According to http://www.flashpoints.info/, a site dedicated to the analyzing and descriptions of various world conflicts, the causes for the war between the Turks and Kurds is primarily based on geographical disputes stemming back to the end of the WWI. It was at this time that the established Kurdistan territories, then part of the Ottoman Empire, were redrawn, thus destroying any one area for the Kurdish people to call their own. However, these people have remained within the areas of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran because, quoting Stephen John Morgan's article "Behind the Turkey-Kurdish Conflict" at http://www.thecheers.org/, "They have survived because of their national pride and culture, which, despite differences in linguistic dialects, allow them to share a common language, folklore, music and festivals from their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish oppressors."

In addition to geographical disputes, the war can also be seen as a struggle for human rights. In reference to Morgan's article at http://thecheers.org/, the Kurds have faced oppression since the very beginning of the conflict, and until recently, have not been recognized as a separate people from the Turkish people themselves. This had led to the persecution of their political rights as Turkey doesn't wish to allow them a voice in the state, but also continues to refuse them a portion of territory to which they may govern themselves. This is a big reason why Kurds have been mistreated due to the fact that they are living in Turkey's area of land. However, these actions have also caused problems for Turkey, who would like to become part of the European Union but is disallowed due to the persecution of the Kurdish people within its borders.