New book in Catalan language: ‘Kurdistan, the people of the sun’

With the title ‘Kurdistan, the people of the sun’, publishing house Tigre de Paper has published a nearly 400 page-long book which analyses in depth the situation of this key nation.

With the title ‘Kurdistan, the people of the sun’, publishing house Tigre de Paper has published a nearly 400 page-long book which analyses in depth the situation of this key nation. Key due to her geo-strategic location in the midst of the Middle East. Key also since it amounts to an oasis of democratic and multicultural proposals in a region punished by impositions and authoritarianism.

The book, in Catalan, is the first work published world-wide analysing the theoretical foundations of Democratic Confederalism. This is a political proposal supported by a portion of the Kurdish movement, based on coexistence between ethnic majorities and minorities, respect for pluralism, an in-depth adoption of feminism, and new socio-economic forms such as Cooperativism.

One of the book's thesis is that the emergence of the Kurdish people as a political actor over the last few years has deep historical roots. This is no coincidence. These roots are explained, together with the Kurdish national movement's right moves and mistakes, as well as its diversity in terms of political parties and religious confessions. Divided into four sections, the four large parts into which Kurdistan is quartered, the text presents the evolution of the Kurds of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The great regional powers, Arabs, Persians, and Turks, have fought, even among them, to conquer a huge area of 440,000 square Kilometres. With a wish for peace crushed by neighbours through repetitive genocidal practices as the starting point, the Kurds have found themselves forced to develop a determined self-defence action. Not because they are attracted to violence, but as a vital necessity, to survive. The trajectory of the Kurdish People shows that, had it not defended itself, its destiny would have been to disappear.

Lastly, social progress in Kurdish areas, despite a situation of absolute weakness, is analysed. This includes a third of Iraq's Kurdish Parliament reserved to women, and absolute equity in Syrian Kurdistan, also autonomous. Respect for minority languages and their recognition as official are another aspect standing in contrast with the mono-ethnic proposals by the states to which the Kurds find themselves subject.

Only by knowing about something is it possible to love it. This book is a way to get to know Kurdistan.