The Influence of the Kurdistan Regional Government-Turkey Relations on the Kurdish Question in Turkey

Sammanfattning: This thesis studies the influence of the relations between the KRG and the Turkish government on the Kurdish Question and the peace process in Turkey, and it looks into the potential and limits of the KRG to be more effective and involved in the peace process in Turkey. The relations between the KRG and Turkish government have grown fast politically, economically, in energy sector and in terms of security in the past six years parallel to the progress in the Kurdish Question in Turkey. Under the leadership of AK Party, the developments in the Kurdish Question have been quite a rollercoaster full of progress and deadlocks. The thesis employs a qualitative research method; the analysis is based on nine interviews with politicians from different parties in Turkey and KR-I and some official statements of the political parties in Turkey and KR-I. The thesis argues that the KRG-Turkey relations have contributed to smoothening the public opinion in Turkey toward the Kurdish Question, and the KRG has the potential to contribute to the peace process in case of the disarmament of the PKK. On the other hand, the thesis looks into the power struggle between the Kurdish political parties, which has limited/can further limit the KRG’s involvement in the peace process.