Great Decisions Lecture Series The Kurds: An Alternative Vision for the Middle East

Great Decisions Lecture Series The Kurds: An Alternative Vision for the Middle East Thursday, February 27 Community Meeting Room, Lynchburg Public Library Light Refreshments: 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.; Presentations: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m

Dr. Selda Altan, Assistant Professor of History, Randolph College

Since the emergence of the self-proclaimed Islamic State and the inception of the Civil War in Syria, the Kurds took the center stage of regional and global politics. This lecture will trace the origins of the Kurdish question in the Middle East in order to understand the different phases and actors of the struggle for an independent Kurdish state. Who needs an independent Kurdistan? How divided or unified are the Kurds in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria? Is it an issue of strategy-making or identity politics? What role will the Kurds play in the future of the region?

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If Lynchburg Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Great Decisions lecture for that day will be canceled and rescheduled for Thursday, March 5 if possible.

The Lynchburg Branch of the AAUW, the League of Women Voters of Lynchburg, the Lynchburg Public Library, and Givens Books are the sponsors of the lectures.

Topics are suggested by the Foreign Policy Association.  For briefing and research papers see http://www.fpa.org.  The Lynchburg Public Library has set aside information on the Great Decisions topics for your convenience.

*This topic was chosen by the local committee which organized the 2020 Great Decisions series.