David L. Phillips is director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. Phillips served as foreign affairs expert and senior adviser to the US Department of State during the administrations of presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama.

About his new book: ‘The Kurdish Spring’ A New Map of the Middle East

Kurds are the largest stateless people in the world. An estimated thirty-two million Kurds live in “Kurdistan,” which includes parts of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran—today’s “hot spots” in the Middle East. The Kurdish Spring explores the subjugation of Kurds by Arab, Ottoman, and Persian powers for almost a century, and explains why Kurds are now evolving from a victimized people to a coherent political community.

David L. Phillips describes Kurdish rebellions and arbitrary divisions in the last century, chronicling the nadir of Kurdish experience in the 1980s. He discusses draconian measures implemented by Iraq, including use of chemical weapons, Turkey’s restrictions on political and cultural rights, denial of citizenship and punishment for expressing Kurdish identity in Syria, and repressive rule in Iran.

Phillips forecasts the collapse and fragmentation of Iraq. He argues that US strategic and security interests are advanced through cooperation with Kurds, as a bulwark against ISIS and Islamic extremism. This work will encourage the public to look critically at the post-colonial period, recognizing the injustice and impracticality of states that were created by Great Powers, and offering a new perspective on sovereignty and statehood.

Editorial Reviews

“For decades, David Phillips has championed the cause of human rights in Kurdistan. He is one of the few experts on all parts of Kurdistan which makes this book such a useful survey of a place and people that are now at the center of US foreign policy.”

—Ambassador Peter W. Galbraith; author, The End of Iraq

“The Kurdish Spring tells an important story about the historic betrayal and abuse of the Kurds. It also describes current challenges presented by Iraq’s near collapse and the rise of ISIS. David L. Phillips is well qualified to discuss the future of Kurdistan. He has been on the ground for twenty-five years, offering insights as both a scholar and practitioner. The Kurdish Spring is finally hopeful, as Kurds make progress towards their security and sovereignty.”

—Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico

“Few scholars know more about the intricacies of the Kurdish challenges than David Phillips. He not only knows all the key players but he also understands the political dynamics of the Kurdish nationalism in today’s evolving Middle East. The Kurdish Spring is a must read for anyone seeking to understand the history and impact the Kurds play in the region today.”

—Nancy Soderberg, former deputy national security advisor and alternate representative to the United Nations

David L. Phillips

Foreword by Bernard Kouchner

List Price: $24.95

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ISBN: 978-1-4128-5680-5

Pages: 268

Binding: Paperback

Publication Date: 12-22-2014

Available on Amazon: The Kurdish Spring: A New Map of the Middle East

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