Erdogan and the Kurds. Prospects for Resolving the Kurdish issue in Turkey

The Kurdish issue is one of the most striking ethno-political conflicts not only in the Middle East, but also in the whole world. The Kurds, divided into four states as a result of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923, became from the ethnic majority of the historical territory of Kurdistan to a national minority in several countries, including Turkey. The harsh policy of the Turkish central government towards the Kurds led to the formation of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in 1978, which is recognized as a terrorist party in Turkey. The article examines the situation of the Kurdish minority in Turkey and the reasons for the beginning of the struggle for their political rights. The context of the internal political relations between President Erdogan and the Kurds in Turkey is also reflected in detail. While previously the Kurdish issue in Turkey was a subject to securitization, now the Kurds are one of the main actors in the political arena of Turkey, the relationship with which may allow Erdogan to be elected for a fourth presidential term.