This thesis investigates the circumstances surrounding two periods of reforms concerning the
Kurds in Turkey to determine possible reasons for the introduction of reforms in 2013. It compiles the
literature for each of these periods of reform and determines that a credible commitment from the
European Union to Turkish membership was responsible for the first period while the second period
occurred due to domestic political factors. The thesis then examines both of these possible causes as
well as a third not supported by the literature-that the Turkish government’s goal may have been to
improve relations with the government of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish province- in order to determine
which of these was responsible for the September 2013 reforms being introduced. After analysis, this
thesis finds that the most likely reason for the introduction of the reforms was that the ruling Justice
and Development party hoped to form a conservative alliance with Kurdish voters and political organizations.No embargoAcademic Major: Political ScienceAcademic Major: Russia
