XIX. CAN A POLITICAL STRUCTURE BASED ON THE MODEL OF A FEDERATION BRING SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM?

In the context of finding a solution to the Kurdish problem, the disputable model of a federation has been suggested primarily. There are various factors that cause to rule out the model of a federation as an applicable solution to the problem. These factors are as follows:

i. Inhomogeneity of Kurds and determination at a low scale of the ethnic belonging for the political choices of citizens of Kurdish ancestry.102

ii. Widespread distribution of Kurds into Turkey which prevents them from being located geographically.

iii. In case of a separate treatment for Kurds, the likelihood of offering the similar for several other ethnic groups in Turkey which eventually shall undermine the territorial and national integrity.103

When these factors supported by social, political, historical, sociological and demographical facts are considered, one will see that the model of a federation is far from being applicable and realistic. Finally, the proposal of the model of a federation to solve Kurdish problem in Turkey may be taken serious to the same extent as the proposal of German type federalism for a domestic problem of France, which is also a unitary state.

102 Candidates from the pro-Kurdish People’s Labour Party (HEP) participated in 1991 general elections from the lists of the center-left party in Southeast Turkey and they could gain only 18% of the votes in the region. See Ankara Journalist Association, PKK Reality in Turkey and in the World (Ankara: Gazeteciler Cemiyeti Yayınları, 1994), p. 15. In the general elections of December 24, 1995 pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) in alliance with extreme leftist parties could gain 4% of the votes in whole Turkey and 18% in the Southeast. See Andrew Finkel, ATV as quoted in Taha Akyol, "Sandıktan Çıkan Mesaj-3" [Message Given by The Voters-3], Milliyet, 29 December 1995. For the figures based on the percentage of the spoiled and invalid votes related to the instructions by the PKK in 1994 and 1989 local elections which prove that the PKK, the most notable symbol of separatism in Turkey, does not represent Kurds in the Southeast, see Criss, "The Nature of...", p. 27.

103 If a state converts into the federation with multi-legal system with regard to the races and faiths, that will create "Balkanization" and "Lebanonization". See Taha Akyol, "Lewis ve Üniter Devlet" [Lewis and the Unitary State], Milliyet, 8 January 1996. Social and historical conditions and sub-divisions with the experience of self-rule are necessary for the survival of federalism but not found in Turkey. See Çiğdem Nas, "Türkiye İçin Federalizm Geçerli Bir Çözüm Mü?" [Is Federalism A Valid Proposal For Turkey?], Yeni Yüzyıl, 6 March 1996.