![]() To this end, this article is structured to reflect two-pronged analyses: Therefore, this article aims to offer a thorough examination of the strategic interaction between the Turkish State and the PKK throughout the conflict, attempting to answer the following question: “ What strategies did both parties use at different levels, and to what extent were they aligned with the respective 'political end state(s) ? Each evolutionary phase is marked by crucial differences in each party’s choices on all levels of the stratagem: political, grand strategic, and military strategic. Due to this strategic interaction, the conflict has gone through different phases based on critical breaking points in its life cycle. Following many turning points and teaching moments, both parties were caught in a costly deadlock by the year 2000 ( Gürcan &: Ünal, 2018). This strategic interaction or power game’ came to resemble the otherwise known tit-for-tat mechanism. These circumstances have made both parties adjust their political objectives and their respective strategies. It has managed to not only survive and adapt-changing its political goals and, subsequendy, strategic approaches- but also continue posing a formidable threat to the Turkish State ( Miron, 2019b Ünal, 2016d).įor almost four decades, the conflict has undergone different stages marked by shifts in the politico-military environment and external and internal pressures. However, the PKK could not be fully eradicated it has demonstrated resilience despite the immense losses ( Gürcan & Ünal, 2018). Total incapacitated (killed, injured, and captured): 42,230 As a result of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) military campaign, 32,562 PKK militants were neutralized, 1,566 were injured, 8,162 were captured, and some 7,146 surrendered ( Table 2). Turkey has implemented different countermeasures throughout its struggle against the PKK, ranging from enemy-centric -often repressive and iron-fisted- to population-centric approaches -accommodative and conciliatory means with less emphasis on using armed forces ( Miron, 2019a Ünal, 2012a 2016c). Despite the immense losses on both sides, they have remained trapped in a never-ending spiral of violence ( Ünal, 2016a 2016b).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |