ABSTRACT
During the Erdogan era (2002–), increasingly cascading crises and policy changes against the backdrop of enormous economic development and political changes have and continue to occur. Turkey itself, as well as its allies and neighbors, has become bitterly divided over Erdogan’s policies. Some have even suggested that Turkey will forsake the secular heritage of Ataturk and quit NATO. The bloody failed coup that occurred on July 15, 2016, partially symbolizes this situation. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze Turkey’s policies toward the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Russia, among others, to understand what has shaped and continues to shape Turkey’s broader Middle East policies largely but not exclusively as it has been informed by its Kurdish policies. This chapter will be based mostly on fieldwork in the Middle East and Europe—including Turkey, the KRG, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Europe—involving interviews with political leaders, academics, and the regular population. I also will use secondary sources such as academic books and articles as well as news articles.
