Publications Archive
Can the AKP’s Kurdish Gamble Pay Off? September 30, 2010 / Amberin Zaman
Calls by pro-Kurdish political groups for greater autonomy reflect their increasingly defiant stance. Turkey’s ruling AKP and Prime Minister Erdoğan face difficult choices ahead of next year’s elections, either engaging the Kurds or bowing to nationalist pressure against pro-Kurdish groups. Although nationalist groups have criticized the AKP for supposedly capitulating to terrorists, the recent referendum suggests waning support for a hard line approach. At the same time, the AKP’s refusal to lean too far forward means that the best thing Erdoğan can do is keep engaging Kurdish leaders.



