History of the Kurdish Question Part 1: Becoming the World's Largest Stateless People [Modern History] #374

We discuss the reality of having a population of over 30 million yet no country of their own.

There are many ethnic groups in the world, but the Kurds remain in a situation where they do not have a nation, despite having a population of over 30 million—more than the population of many countries. Why were they unable to secure a state? The beginning of the episode introduces the heartbreaking reality of how a promised nation, intended as compensation for their wartime cooperation, was retracted due to international post-war politics.

The history of treaties intertwined with the intentions of the international community holds the key.

The story goes back to the international situation after World War I. While autonomy was once promised under the Treaty of Sèvres, the situation changed drastically with the Treaty of Lausanne. This shift was heavily influenced by the interests of major powers like Great Britain and the presence of Mustafa Kemal, who led the Turkish War of Independence. In the middle of the program, we discuss why certain regions were incorporated into specific countries, revealing the severe circumstances that still connect to the modern Middle East situation.

We delve into the deeper historical background and the core reasons behind their current situation. Please listen to the full episode to hear the rest.