Understanding the power of insurgent leadership: A case study of Abdullah Ocalan and the PKK.

摘要

The dynamics between Turkey and its Kurdish minority have been troubled ever since the founding of the Turkish republic in 1923. After decades of repression under state policies that tried to forcefully assimilate the Kurds, a lengthy war broke out between the central government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in 1984 that continues to this day. This armed conflict has cost Turkey dearly in terms of lives lost, money spent, and a national consciousness scarred by a legacy of injustice and brutality on both sides. Though the last ten years have seen a welcomed decrease in violence compared to the 1980s and 1990s due to a shift in the PKK's approach and new policies introduced by the ruling AK Party, there is still much to be done to resolve the conflict for good.;A close examination of Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK's only president since the founding of the party in 1978, offers a unique opportunity to draw lessons from Turkey's Kurdish issue that may be relevant to intrastate ethnic conflicts elsewhere, especially in terms of understanding the importance and reach of strong leadership. Some say Ocalan was a madman, an egomaniacal killer, ruthless and brutal. Others call him a hero, the savior of his people, even a martyr. Whatever the opinion of Ocalan, it is clear that his impact on the development of Turkey's Kurdish issue has been significant. Through analysis of the case of Abdullah Ocalan, this study seeks to examine the extent to which a single leader (in this case the leader of a terrorist organization) can influence events in an intrastate conflict, as well as highlight the circumstances that may allow this to occur. It hypothesizes that Ocalan has singlehandedly shaped the Kurdish issue within the Turkish republic, he has impacted Turkey's posture in foreign relations, and he has continued to play a pivotal role in the conflict over the last several years, despite his incarceration in 1999.