Abstract

This article discusses the role of the Kurdish Issue in the democratic and European opening of Turkey. Turkey has long been presented as a role model for Muslim polities. A ‘vicious triangle’ model is utilized to reveal how crucially the reality of this role-model image depends on the balancing act between democratization, Europeanization, and the Kurdish Issue. This paper counters prevailing views that any changes in the Kurdish Issue are the result of EU accession pressures. By highlighting AKP’s ‘Kurdish Initiative’ and the Kurds’ own impetus for change, the analysis suggests a resolution pre-accession to meet Kurdish demands within a Turkish political framework.