Industrial development of Turkish Kurdistan (late 20th – early 21st centuries): dynamics and structural changes

Abstract

The purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the state and dynamics of industrial development of Turkish Kurdistan at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. Particular attention is paid to identifying structural disparities between regions, assessing the effectiveness of export strategies and clarifying the impact of economic modernization on the social structure of Kurdish society.

Methods. The work uses a systematic approach, methods of statistical analysis of economic indicators, a comparative geographical method for studying the development of individual provinces, as well as an analytical and predictive method for assessing the risks of socio-cultural assimilation of the population in the context of industrialization.

The study analyzed the industrial landscape of Kurdistan and noted its pronounced unevenness. It is noted that the most developed industrial centers are concentrated on the periphery, while the central Kurdish regions remain economically backward. It was found that the key driver of exports is the textile industry, in particular the production of carpets. It is noted that, despite the creation of preferential "free zones", the total export of Southeastern Anatolia is only 2% of the national indicator of Turkey. Attention is focused on the fact that rapid industrialization and the implementation of the GAP project are destroying the traditional protective mechanisms of Kurdish society, strengthening the processes of de-Kurdization.

Based on the data obtained, it is concluded that the current model of modernization of Turkish Kurdistan is deepening the socio-economic gap between successful industrial centers and backward areas. It is proven that the industrial transformation of the region has not only economic, but also geopolitical implications, contributing to the gradual spatial and economic assimilation of the Kurds. The need to revise regional development strategies to achieve a balance between economic growth and the preservation of the ethno-cultural identity of the region is emphasized.