New initiatives are budding in the Kurdish camp of Turkey’s political arena, long dominated by the duo of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). The emergence of the new groups has coincided with tensions on the scene, leading to suggestions that they are projects to break the BDP’s clout. Yet the widening space for Kurds to engage in politics in Turkey is making the diversification of politics in Kurdistan inevitable.
It is interesting, though, that while the BDP is making efforts to recast itself as a nationwide “party of Turkey” of various shades, its alternatives identify themselves as “Kurdistani” and have a regional focus. Standing out among the new groups are the Kurdish Democratic Platform, the Azadi (Freedom) Initiative and Diyaloga Nu (New Dialogue). They aspire to use the words “Kurdistan” or “Kurdish” — or at least a Kurdish word — in the names of their prospective parties.
