On 12 May, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced that it will dissolve itself. This decision is historic, potentially bringing one of the Middle East’s longest-lasting conflicts to an end. If successful, the Kurdish peace could be highly transformative for Turkey’s domestic politics and foreign policy, its neighbourhood in the Middle East, and the future of Kurdish (geo)politics. However, this process is still in its early phases and remains fragile. Questions abound about the complexities of the PKK’s disarmament process, legal reforms in Turkey, and the implications of this process on the Syrian Kurds and their negotiations with Damascus.
Given the centrality of the Kurdish issue in informing Turkish foreign policy, this process could have transformative effects on Turkey’s international future, particularly in its relations with the West, Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. This webinar aims to unpack the implications of and the road ahead for the PKK’s dissolution.
It will address the following questions:
- What is the significance of the PKK’s dissolution for Turkey, the Kurds, and the Middle East?
- What’s the next step for this process?
- What will the domestic and foreign policy implications of this process be for Turkey?
- How can the PKK’s dissolution redefine Turkey’s international future and its relations with the West?
- What will be the implications of the PKK’s dissolution for Syria and the Syrian Kurds?
By registering for this event, attendees agree to our Code of Conduct, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming space for diverse perspectives and debate.
