The Kurds are widely regarded as one of the world's largest ethnic groups without a country of their own.

There are some 35-40 million Kurds living today in the heart of the Middle East. But despite their considerable number and historical significance, they are locked in an ongoing struggle for recognition and autonomy because the region of Kurdistan has never existed as a sovereign state.

For more than a century, many Kurds have clamoured for the creation of a modern-day 'Greater Kurdistan' where their people could live in peace, free of the social and political agendas of other governments who seek to oppress them.

But there are many reasons - some obvious and others less so - as to why the creation of such a state would be so fraught with difficulty.

Here, we’ll look at the plight of the Kurds in different countries, examine their fight for autonomy and predict whether a sovereign Kurdistan is ever likely to become a reality.

LIST OF IMPORTANT ACRONYMS:

PKK - Kurdistan Worker's Party (Kurdish political movement in Turkey) PYD - Democratic Union Party (essentially Syrian branch of PKK) YPG - People's Protection Units (militant group affiliated with PYD) YPJ - The YPG but for women SDF - Syrian Democratic Forces (multi-ethnic militia led by the YPG) KRG - Kurdistan Regional Government (executive body of Iraqi Kurdistan) KDP - Kurdistan Democratic Party (political party in Iraqi Kurdistan) PUK - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (another political party in Iraqi Kurdistan) AANES - Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

CHAPTERS 0.00: Intro 1.42: History of the Kurds 5.09: Kurds in Turkey 8.45: Kurds in Syria 12.33: Kurds in Iran and Iraq 18.35: Will there ever be a sovereign Kurdistan?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wbtw.substack.com