David Romano
David Romano is an assistant professor of International Studies at Rhodes College. He is the author of “The Kurdish Nationalist Movement” (2006, Cambridge University Press), in addition to numerous articles on Middle East politics, the Kurdish issue, forced migration, and globalization. He has spent several years conducting field research in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel.
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Articles by David Romano
The Gorran Movement – A Change in the Iraqi Kurdish Political Landscape
The emergence of a new Kurdish opposition movement in Iraqi Kurdistan—Gorran (meaning “Change”)—has complicated the political landscape of northern Iraq. A break-away movement of many top PUK (Patriotic Union of...
Key to Iraqi Stability Lies in Resolution of the Conflicting Interests of Kurds and Arabs
In his February 2, 2010 “Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community,” U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair predicts that Iraq will continue making progress, although “this...
In the Aftermath of Iraq’s Provincial Elections, Part One: A Dangerous Year Ahead for Iraqi Kurds
Some ominous signs have appeared for northern Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) following the January 31 nationwide provincial elections. If the elections offer an indicator of the national mood of...
Turkey Addresses PKK Challenge with Kurdish Language Reforms
For many years the Turkish state has insisted that no ethnic minority problems exist in Turkey. According to the official discourse, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan – PKK)...
Political Consensus Missing in Establishment of U.S. Military Bases in Iraqi Kurdistan
Recent reports suggest that the United States may establish long-term military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to the Gulf News, “U.S. forces could be stationed permanently in Kurdistan as part...
Turkey and Iraqi Kurds Agree to Disagree on PKK’s Terrorist Status
In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Tempo, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani stated that “the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] is not a terrorist organization.” Barzani also added...
PARTY CLOSURES AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS MAY ALL OCCUR IN FALL
On June 20 the Democratic Society Party (DTP) requested and received extra time to prepare its defense in the closure case it faces. The closure case against the DTP was...
Turkish and Iraqi Kurdish Rapprochement Ominous for PKK
In a significant change of policy, Turkey recently initiated high-level official dialogue with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq. A columnist for the Turkish mass circulation daily Zaman commented...
The Reaction of Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish Incursion
The February 21-29 Turkish incursion into Iraq failed to provoke Iraqi Kurds. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of northern Iraq appears to have limited its reaction to dutifully lodged diplomatic...
PKK TRIUMPHANT AS ANKARA RETREATS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ
After only eight days, Turkey abruptly ended its military incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan on Friday February 29. The withdrawal of Turkish troops caught many observers, as well as the Turkish...
Turkey’s Choice with Barzani: The Gun or the Olive Branch
Shortly after the Turkish National Assembly passed a resolution authorizing the Turkish army to enter northern Iraq, President Massoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) replied: “If...
PRO-KURDISH PARTY CALLS FOR KURDISH AUTONOMY IN TURKEY
The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) held a leadership conference on November 8, during which Nurettin Demirtas was elected the new party leader. Demirtas is thought to be less moderate...
RIVAL CAMPS POSITION THEMSELVES OVER GUL PRESIDENTIAL BID
The Nationalist Action Party (MHP), with 70 seats in the new Turkish parliament, has indicated that it has no serious objection to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate,...
IRAQI DIPLOMACY LIKELY TO FORESTALL TURKISH INCURSION
On Tuesday, August 7, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) between Iraq and Turkey. The memorandum does not commit Baghdad to take many of the...
REELECTED TURKISH PM SEEKS NEW, “EUROPEAN STYLE” CONSTITUTION
Fresh from his July 22 electoral victory, returning Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to draw up a new, “more democratic and civilian constitution” (Today’s Zaman, August...
DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS EXPECTED IN NEW TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
For the first time in ten years, pro-Kurdish candidates have won seats in the Turkish parliament. Twenty-four independent candidates affiliated with the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) were elected on...
TURKISH ELECTIONS: AK PARTY MAY WIN ANOTHER MAJORITY GOVERNMENT
On July 19 Turkish newspapers published extensive pre-election data from the KONDA polling firm (Radikal, July 19). Based on nine surveys of more than 25,000 people conducted between February 15...