In the second half of their conversation Djene Rhys Bajalan and Ozan Ozavci consider the Kurds’ relationship with Russia and Britain, the Kurdish perception of Lausanne, and the 1925 Sheikh Said rebellion.
Djene is Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History at Missouri State University
For Djene Rhys Bajalan, the Turkish nationalist belief that the Kurds were a “puppet” of Russian and British imperial ambitions and intrigues is an over-exaggeration. Djene argues that what we see is a convergence of interests. He draws our attention to Kurdish agency and ambitions, and shows how a logic of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” loomed large in their calculations. Djene and Ozan open this second part with a discussion on Kurdish relations with Russia and Britain, before moving on to address the Kurdish perception of Lausanne and the Sheikh Said rebellion of 1925, which, Djene argues, was not simply reactionary but also had a modernist element.
Episode 19 – Part II: The Safer Bet?
Podcasts are published by TLP for the purpose of encouraging informed debate on the legacies of the events surrounding the Lausanne Conference. The views expressed by participants do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TLP, its partners, convenors or members.
MAIN IMAGE: Sheikh Said by Rebwar K. Tahir.
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