The Kurdish people, still the largest stateless nation on the planet, inhabit a distinctive place on the globe, in history, and across today’s geopolitical reality. About sixty million strong, the Kurds live within Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Armenia, and have stubbornly and bravely maintained their identity and culture through centuries of oppression, invasion, and even genocide.
Not having an official state hasn’t stopped the Kurds from developing their own unique cultural identity and defending it, along the way embodying values closer to those of the United States than their theocratic, authoritarian, and often hostile neighbors in the Middle East. Reliably coming to the aid of America, the Kurds are a proud, independent people we need to better understand.
Kurdish Origins
The Kurdish people can be traced to ancient Mesopotamia, where they were descendants of the Medes, an Iranian people. In the medieval period, the Kurds adopted Sunni Islam, but retained their own language and culture. A celebrated figure was the Kurdish leader Saladin (Salah ad-Din), founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, known for expanding the empire and recapturing Jerusalem in 1187.
Kurdistan became a battleground between the Ottoman and Safavid empires by the 16th century, creating a precedent for finding themselves divided between regional powers, and proxies for global players. Despite their land being fragmented for political reasons, Kurdish tribes have steadfastly fought for their unique identity, language, and freedom.
The Kurds were promised an independent state after the Ottoman Empire collapsed at the end of World War I, but the super powers reneged on their agreements, leaving the Kurds divided ever since across the newly formed nations of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria,
Caught between the world’s opportunistic super powers and their often belligerent neighbors, the Kurds faced relentless suppression and assimilation throughout the 20th century. Uprisings, invasions, and oppression to the point of genocide have characterized their continued struggle for freedom. Time and time again, external powers have meddled within the Middle East, using the Kurds whenever expedient, only to discard them at the first hint of defeat.
More recently, Kurdish groups have played pivotal roles in seismic changes to the region. Resisting Saddam Hussein and paying an agonizing price, the Kurds gained a semi-autonomous region in Iraq following the Gulf Wars – while in Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian forces were instrumental in defeating ISIS, thereby gaining international recognition as allies in the West’s fight against Islamist extremism.
Today, the Kurdish quest for greater control of their own land remains daunting. Geopolitical opportunism and hostile neighbors complicate Kurdish aspirations, as fears of local secession and broader instability preclude Kurdish freedom. Despite these many struggles, Kurdish regions are rich in natural resources, particularly oil and gas in Iraq, with assets leveraged to encourage local development and global trade.
Kurdish Culture & Art
Kurdish society is founded on the pillars of community, hospitality, and respect for elders. Although predominantly Sunni Muslim, the Kurds are celebrated for their religious diversity, peacefully cohabitating and trading with Shiites, Yazidis, Christians, and others. Kurdish pluralism is an outgrowth of their openness, adaptability, and tolerance of other cultures, religions, and ethnicities.
The Kurdish language, with dialects including Kurmanji and Sorani, remains a central aspect of their singular identity. Music and dance are a part of everyday life among the Kurds, their folk dances during celebrations and festivals symbolizing unity, resilience, and a celebration of the good things in life.
The Newroz festival brings in the Kurdish New Year in March, and is a major holiday marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of rebirth. Kurdish oral and written literature are robust, with poets and contemporary authors treated like celebrities across a people having deep respect and admiration for the arts.
As a result, Kurdish films and music flourish, and have begun to achieve international acclaim, contributing to global cultural diversity while educating the world about Kurdish history, traditions, and struggles.
Shared Values & Goals
Despite the many obvious differences between the Kurdish and American people, surprising and powerful commonalities encourage greater understanding and collaboration. These shared values and goals include a foundational belief in freedom and autonomy, religious and cultural tolerance, and an indefatigable individualism and entrepreneurial spirit that drives everything they do.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is in the DNA of Americans and the Kurds. The essential belief in individualism, supported by community, family, and hospitality, is reflected in both cultures, reinforced by resilience and a strong “live and let live” attitude. At the end of each day, both Americans and Kurds want the good life for themselves and their families.
Such a focus on self-reliance, fairness, and economic prosperity is endemic in the West, yet a rarity in the Middle East, where authoritarian, theocratic states are the norm. As such, the Kurds have been the ideal allies of the US in the region, applying their matchless bravery and fierce drive for autonomy to vanquish mutual enemies and defend the rights of peace-loving people.
A Bright Kurdish & American Future
Such commonalities between American and Kurds create a solid foundation for expanding relations and respect, net positive all around. An expanding alliance also serves as a counterbalance to the aggressive moves of Russia, Iran, and other despotic regimes in the region and elsewhere.
A stable and empowered Kurdish presence, supported by the United States, could contribute to a more secure Middle East. Meanwhile millions of Kurds living in the West, including the States, offer opportunities for growing ties beyond politics into cultural exchange and collaboration programs, further strengthening the international alliance.
The Kurdish people have rich history, cultural depth, and strategic importance vital to American interests. Their proven contributions to regional and global security make them indispensable partners, especially as chaos spreads throughout the region. Building a bridge with the Kurds helps promote peace and progress in the Middle East and across the planet, and can do so with far less gold and blood than direct international intervention.
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