The Foreign Service Journal, April 2008

PKK strikes would trigger disproportunate military reac- tions, which would, in turn, feed a culture of violence without end. But on the level of the political parties, a certain degree of optimism reigns. The 2007 elections showed the AK Party winning just over 50 percent of the vote in the east, reflecting a possible decrease in separatist sentiment among the Kurdish population. The rest of the Kurdish vote was split. Significantly, the PKK has not retained the support it used to enjoy because other Kurdish organizations are increasingly popular. Supporters of Nakshibendi dervish organizations and ultra-conservative outfits, including Kurdish Hezbollah (which translates as “The Party of God”), have gained ground. These other groupings of Kurds are critical of violent incidents fomented by the PKK that have caused collateral damage, such as the recent bombing in Diyarbekir, the largest Kurdish city in eastern Turkey, in which Kurdish students, rather than the targeted Turkish military, were killed. A Model for Others Given all this, what can the United States do to help bolster Turkey’s Western orientation, and is there any way to help it become a model for other Islamic regimes? To take the second question first, Turkey is not well posi- tioned to serve as a beacon for other Islamic nations. Its Arab neighbors still nourish a feeling of reserve produced by the maladministration of the Ottomans and a convic- tion that modern Turkey has become too subservient to the West. These states are not encouraged to copy the Turkish experience when they see the many hoops Ankara has had to jump through to join the European Union. Nor does American support improve their inclination to follow in Turkey’s wake. In the past, among the Arabs only Tunisia’s Habib Bourguiba was known as an admirer of Ataturk who sought in any way to emulate the Turkish Republic. But the current leaders of Tunisia lack his standing, should they seek to copy Turkey’s system. In another part of the Muslim world, the Pakistani generals have looked to the F O C U S A P R I L 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 33 Home Suite Home The next time you’re going to be in DC for an extended stay, make yourself at home at Georgetown Suites. With our discounted monthly rates and large, comfortable suites, you’ll feel right at home. Plus we’re near the State Department. Call today! Georgetown Suites the fun place to stay in DC 1-800-348-7203 www.georgetownsuites.com sales@georgetownsuites.com