Conflict Transformation and Asymmetric Conflicts: A Critique of the Failed Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

Bahar Baser Ozturk; Alpaslan Ozerdem

doi:10.1080/09546553.2019.1657844

Conflict Transformation and Asymmetric Conflicts: A Critique of the Failed Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

Bahar Baser Ozturk, Alpaslan Ozerdem

Vice-Chancellor's Office (VCO)

George Mason University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

157 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this article, we examine the dynamics of the Kurdish-Turkish peace process that collapsed in the summer of 2015. The negotiations began when the conflict reached a certain level of ripeness, one that made it possible for both sides to entertain the possibility of compromise on various taboo issues. However, in the face of both domestic and international developments, the process came to an abrupt halt. This article argues that the main reason the process stalled was because it was built from the start around the idea of “resolution” rather than “transformation”, a concept better suited to responding to highly fluid asymmetric conflicts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1775-1796
Number of pages	22
Journal	Terrorism and Political Violence
Volume	33
Issue number	8
Early online date	9 Sept 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2019.1657844
Publication status	Published - 17 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Terrorism and Political Violence on 09/09/2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09546553.2019.1657844
Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis.

Funder

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation; Thomson Reuters Foundation; The Stanley Foundation.

Keywords

PKK
Turkey
terrorism
peace process
conflict transformation
Political Science and International Relations
Safety Research
Sociology and Political Science
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Political Science and International Relations
Sociology and Political Science
Safety Research

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/09546553.2019.1657844

Ozturk_Ozerdem_Conflict_TransformationAccepted author manuscript, 1.05 MB

Cite this

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abstract = "In this article, we examine the dynamics of the Kurdish-Turkish peace process that collapsed in the summer of 2015. The negotiations began when the conflict reached a certain level of ripeness, one that made it possible for both sides to entertain the possibility of compromise on various taboo issues. However, in the face of both domestic and international developments, the process came to an abrupt halt. This article argues that the main reason the process stalled was because it was built from the start around the idea of “resolution” rather than “transformation”, a concept better suited to responding to highly fluid asymmetric conflicts. ",

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Conflict Transformation and Asymmetric Conflicts: A Critique of the Failed Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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