ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the current predominant approach, both regionally and in the wider international community, to the conflict in southeast Turkey and, to some extent the cross-border operations into Kurdistan, Iraq as one of ‘combating terrorism’. Following from the conclusions of Chapter 6, which resolve that terrorism is not a useful legal designation, this chapter examines politicised applications of terrorism to the Kurdish conflict, and analyses the implications for resolution of the conflict and post-conflict mechanisms. First, the impact of the so-called ‘global war on terror’ on the political dynamics of the Kurdish conflict are considered, before an in-depth analysis of international responses to the conflict. Then, the chapter examines the role of the international community and regional actors in comparative scenarios of ‘terrorism’, looking at when they have and have not been successful in reducing conflict and establishing sustainable post-conflict mechanisms.
