Terrorism in Turkey: Post #3

Terrorism in Turkey

The country of Turkey is not only situated in the ancient domain of the Fertile Crescent, but it is also located in the center of modern terrorism. Neighbored by Syria, Iraq, and Iran, Turkey’s proximity to these hotbeds of terrorist activity and international conflict make it unavoidable to discuss both terrorism and the country of Turkey together.

Though it has not been involved in as many wars in recent years as its neighbors or other nearby nations in the Middle East, it still has dealt with the consequences of terrorism within their nation as well as having to deal with the fallout from its neighbors, particularly in recent years in receiving refugees from the ongoing civil war in Syria.

                         

     

Figure 1. Map displaying dangerous areas in Turkey.

Within Turkey’s own borders, the primary cause of geopolitical tension and violence has been conflict with the Kurds, an ethnic group without a country, and a considerable percentage of Turkey’s population who are united by the Kurdish language and the Islamic religion. Unfortunately, in their shared hope to establish a nation of their own, their efforts at unity have in the past thirty years increasingly ended in violence due to Kurdish militants and extremists.[1] The most controversial of these groups is the Worker’s Party of Kurdistan or the PKK, which was launched in 1984.[2] Regarded as rebels by their more peaceful Kurdish counterparts, they are mainly found along the Turkey-Iraq border, and their number consists of more than 10,000 guerrillas, supplied with arms and weapons left over from the Gulf War.[3]

Figure 2. Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) Soldiers in Turkey

One of the greatest threats to Turkey’s hope for democracy doesn’t come from within its own borders, but from outside of them. Since Syria erupted into civil war in 2011, more than two million Syrians have subsequently fled their homeland. Turkey has been a popular choice for the refugees, due to their proximity and relatively stable environment. Unfortunately, the displaced refugees have increasingly drained Turkey’s economy, as well as the patience of smaller Turkish political groups, particularly the PKK, which has subsequently erupted into violence along the Turkey-Syria border. Despite support from the majority of the Kurdish population within Turkey and the Islamic state, [4] as long as refugees pour into Turkey, there will continue to be dramatic protests and riots against their entering the country.

Works Cited

Ahmad, Feroz. The Making of Modern Turkey. London: Routledge, 1993. 200. Print.

Pope, Nicole, and Hugh Pope. Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey. Woodstock, N.Y.: Overlook, 1998. 238. Print.

Starr, Stephen. "The Renewed Threat of Terrorism to Turkey | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. 25 June 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-renewed-threat-of-terrorism-to-turkey>.

Tharoor, Ishaan. "The Worst Refugee Exodus of the Syrian War Is Happening Right Now." Washington Post. 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

Figures

Figure 1. Map of Turkey. Illustration. www.gov.uk. Web. 18 September 2014.

Figure 2. Image of PKK soldiers. Photograph. Krmagazine.com. Web. 16 July 2014.

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[1] Starr, Stephen. "The Renewed Threat of Terrorism to Turkey | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. 25 June 2013.

[2] Ahmad, Feroz. The Making of Modern Turkey. London: Routledge, 1993. 200.

[3] Pope, Nicole, and Hugh Pope. Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey. Woodstock, N.Y.: Overlook, 1998. 238.

[4] Tharoor, Ishaan. "The Worst Refugee Exodus of the Syrian War Is Happening Right Now." Washington Post. 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.