Turkey-PKK Conflict and its Impact over Ankara’s Relations with Kurdish Regions in Iraq and Syria

Abstract

This thesis examines the Turkey-PKK conflict and its impact on the Turkish administration’s relations with the Kurdish regions in Iraq and Syria in the light of Morgenthau’s political realism theoretical perspective. The study argues that the scope of influence PKK has over these two regions determines the nature of policy the Turkish Government adopts in regard to the Kurdish entities in Iraq and Syria. The paper demonstrates that the PKK has more means of control over the Kurdish region in Syria and less control over the Kurds in Northern Iraq. For that reason PKK and the Kurds in Syria pose more security threat to Turkey than those in Northern Iraq. Therefore, it is in the national interest of the Turkey to have a more positive stance towards the Northern Iraq and oppose de-facto region in Syria.