Henri J. Barkey is associate professor in the Department of International Relations at Lehigh University. Graham E. Fuller is senior analyst at the RAND Corporation.

The Kurds, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Middle East, are reasserting their identity-politically and through violence. Turkey's essentially democratic structure and civil society-ideal tools for coping with and incorporating minority challenge-have so far been suspended on this issue, which the government is treating almost exclusively as a security problem to be dealt with by force. This study explores the roots, dimensions, character, and evolution of the problem, offers a range of approaches to a resolution of the conflict, and draws broader parallels between the Kurdish question and other separatist movements worldwide.

Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Turkey Matters Chapter 2 Origins of the Problem: The Roots of Kurdish Nationalism Chapter 3 Enter the PKK Chapter 4 The Building of Kurdish National Consciousness Chapter 5 The Kurdish Issue in Turkish Public Opinion Chapter 6 Turkish Government Policies in the Southeast Chapter 7 The Kurds and Turkish Foreign Policy Chapter 8 Toward a Solution of the Kurdish Problem Chapter 9 Conclusion