Origins of Turkey's Kurdish problem (1908-1923 period)

AbstractThis study has been made in order to inquire the historical facts behind the Kurdish problem, being the most basic problem that Turkey has been and is still encountering, whether or not the international perspective as well as internal dynamics have any impact on the origination of the problem. In this perspective, the contributions/influences of the Ottoman modernization and Kemalist movement motivated with the project of ?constructing? of a homogeneous society, have been investigated under this study.Period between years 1908 and 1923, where incidents of essence with respect to the historical causes of the Kurdish problem are encountered and experienced, constitutes the principal time span pertaining to the study. In this period, Kurds acted jointly together with Ittihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti (Unity and Development Association) in designing and drawing-up the fate of the Ottoman Empire, but subsequent shift of the political choice of the Members of Ittihat towards ethnic Turkish nationalism, caused certain Kurds to get organized independently. Kurds, for the first time in history entered into an international text under the Treaty of Sevres executed following end of First World War, were disappointed thereunder and allied with the Turks in the War of Liberation. However, the Kurds both failed to be granted any minority status under the Treaty of Lausanne executed after the war, and also were deprived of their cultural and political rights available up till then.Key Words:, Kurdish organizations, Kurdish rebellions, Kurdish nationalism, Kurdish problem.