Dissertation : "What are the main obstacles to the (durable) establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region (or state-like entity) in Syria ?"

Abstract

Since the 20th century, the Kurdish question has been a hot topic for many states. It is still the case today and in the case of Syrian Kurds, this hot topic came with full force before the eyes of the world with the outbreak of the Syrian war. Today who does not know about the female Kurdish fighters that have been battling so bravely against ISIS1? It goes the same way for the 2 Kobane battle, which was very broadly mediatized . What is less known, however, is that the Syrian Kurds are also fighting for autonomy in a combat were ISIS is not their sole enemy nor is it the greater. The purpose of the research is to establish possible scenarios for the future of the Kurds in Rojava. In order to capture at best the current situation, the following questions are at the core of the research: Are the Kurds going to ask for more autonomy to the Syrian government or are they going to gain full independence from the Syrian government? What are the obstacles to Kurdish emancipation from the Syrian state? Which actors oppose/support the project? Are the socio-political structures already in place in Northeastern Syria sustainable and maintainable? The paper will be discussed as follow: first due to the importance of the history about this field and in general a quick historical background of the Kurdish question and of the Kurdish presence in Syria and in the Middle East will be undertook. Second, the main events of the Syrian civil war that are linked to the Kurds will be examined. Third, a general overview of the theoretical framework and praxis in Rojava but also the limits of it will be conducted. Fourth, the section concerning the obstacles to the political project of the Kurds in Syria will be made. And eventually, before the conclusion we will attempt to present some elements that could lead to the success of the Kurdish project, despite the obstacles.