How the Kurds’ Power Play Backfired in Turkey

Halil M. Karaveli and Aliza Marcus

Commentaries and Op-eds March, 2015, The National Interest

Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s recent calls for the Kurdish militants to end the armed struggle inside Turkey seemed designed to show that they were on the brink of a peace deal. It didn’t work. The likelihood of a formal peace settlement has never been worse, and for now this may suit both the PKK and the Turkish government.