MESOP EVENTS : Joint Forum ‘The Syrian War’s Impact on Kurdish Politics’ / LONDON

The Centre for Turkey Studies in partnership with the Centre for Kurdish Progress is pleased to invite you to a CEFTUS Westminster Debate with keynote speakers Dr Cengiz Gunes, Associate Lecturer at the Open University and Mr Robert Lowe, Manager of the Middle East Centre of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Please see speaker biographies below.

The event will take place between 7PM and 9PM on Monday 16th November 2015 in Committee Room 12, House of Commons. Please note security checks are required to enter the House of Commons, at the Cromwell Green Entrance. We kindly ask you to arrive at 6.30PM to allow the event to start and end on time. Booking is required for this event to ensure adequate seating available.

The war in Syria with regional and international sides involved has shattered stability in the region since it began in 2011. Whilst US and Russia disagree on how a solution to the conflict can be achieved, Turkey fearing Kurdish territorial gains close to north-western Syria objects to Kurdish militia involvement in any proposed solution. People’s Protection Units (YPG), backed by its political wing, Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria have recently announced that they have joined forces with Arab rebels in their fight against ISIS. Our keynote speaker, Mr Lowe will elaborate on the complex dynamics of Kurdish politics in Syria resulting from the war and Dr Gunes will analyse interrelated impacts on Kurdish politics in Turkey and Kurdistan-Iraq.

This debate is kindly hosted by Kate Osamor MP for Edmonton.

Mr Tim Eaton of Chatham House will chair this debate.

Register

We look forward to welcoming you to this event.

Speaker Biographies

Dr Cengiz Gunes completed his PhD at the Ideology and Discourse Analysis Research Programme, the Department of Government, University of Essex, UK. He is the author of The Kurdish National Movement in Turkey: From Protest to Resistance (London: Routledge, 2012) and co-editor of The Kurdish Question in Turkey: New Perspectives on Violence, Representation, and Reconciliation (London: Routledge, 2014). His main research interests are in the areas of peace and conflict studies, the Kurds in the Middle East, the international relations of the Middle East and Turkish politics. Currently he works as an associate lecturer at the Open University, UK.

Mr Robert Lowe is the Manager of the Middle East Centre. He joined the centre when it opened in 2010. Previously, Robert was Manager and Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. He held a Research Fellowship from The Leverhulme Trust from 2008 to 2010 and was an Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, from 2008 to 2010.