By Bewar Rwandzi:

Is there any Kurd who doesn’t dream of an independent Kurdistan? Who doesn’t dream of travelling around the world with a Kurdish (rather than an Iraqi, Syrian, Iranian or Turkish) passport? Or of the day when we can say that we are from Kurdistan and no longer see puzzled faces? When we will be recognized and respected? And what could be better than to have your own country run by your own people?

But is now the right time? No.

An independent country should be self-sufficient, have social unity and a good educational system. Of course, there are independent countries that have none of these traits, but the independent Kurdistan in my mind could have it all and more.

This is not a good moment in time for Kurdistan to be independent, because the costs outweigh the benefits. The following sections will outline the reasons why we should not declare independence now, in terms of our economic shortcomings and social structure.

Economic aspect:

Kurdistan depends highly on oil exports and in exchange it receives various products from other countries. It also receives a good budget annually from the central government which provides monthly salaries for public sector officers. Apart from this, we have no manufacturing, no industry, no production and no agriculture. Literally everything we eat, drink, wear and use comes from other states – Turkey in particular.

Therefore, by declaring independence now, we will have to face a number of risks, among them a cut in the budget. This will mean we no longer receive 17% of our budget from central government.

How to fill this gap? We will need to export more and more oil to maintain the working people’s salaries and receive products from other countries. We will be unable to maintain productive agriculture, basically because other countries will sell their food at a lower price and our local peasants will not be able to compete.

The huge number of foreign companies that we already have might also increase and they, rather than our own people, will control our business.

Our economic growth will rely on oil only, and it will be hard to maintain other projects and give attention to other important sectors.

Social structure and education system:

When a country seeks independence, it needs to have a healthy society. A healthy society is one where there is social equality and an active and productive youth population, because youth are the engine of every society and for economic growth. And an education system that produces critical thinkers, innovators and people who can take care of the state in the future.

But the society to be found in Kurdistan is far from this. We have a youth population that is not very productive, but rather confused by every year’s changes in the laws and regulation of their education system. A majority of young people use the internet and social networks in a way that brings harm to them and the society in general.

We have thousands of college graduates who roam around without a job, and depend on the government to find them work in the public sector. And, if they do have a job in the public sector, they will be working from 8:30 to 2:00, not doing much, just dealing with everyday routine, with no creativity and no productivity involved or encouraged. However, if you are lucky enough to speak English, then you will work for a foreign company for a rather good salary. This is not a healthy society.

Furthermore, we have a large number of foreign companies that are constructing buildings and fantastic malls, and spending huge amounts of money on things that our own people can’t afford.

So now we have a society that is highly dependent, a confused and rather hopeless youth generation, and a non-productive education system.

What will we gain from an independent Kurdistan?

Kurdistan will gain a few neighboring enemies who will suppress the Kurds in their lands more than ever, in the fear that they might aspire to the same as Southern Kurdistan. Except for Turkey. Turkey will be the only country recognizing Kurdistan’s independence. Not for sentimental reasons but because, once we get independence, Turkey will have access to the oil and we must sell it as it will be our sole resource for survival. A country in which we own only the land and the people. Everything else will come from foreign countries and our country will be a reflection of Turkish clothes, music and construction, with other products coming from Iran, China and Brazil – and, of course, with plenty of foreign workers, mostly from the less developed countries.

But this is not the independent Kurdistan I am dreaming of. In my imagination it is a decent Kurdistan. We have creative students, innovators and a productive agricultural sector. We have a qualified education system that encourages innovation and produces responsible individuals, and our culture is revived in the most beautiful ways. In the Kurdistan I imagine, there is social equality and the law is exercised over all individuals equally, not forgiving officials for huge mistakes while ordinary people are judged for tiny matters.

When and how to get independence?

In order to get independence, first we must get strong and united at home. Southern Kurdistan is the most autonomous region in the whole world. For now we have strong ties with other countries, with 14 representatives in various countries. We have security and some democracy. We have a huge amount of money. If corruption is reduced, we can create the best education system, and build many schools, equip them with the most modern labs and libraries and provide a healthy studying atmosphere.

We can fix the transportation system: as we know, the number of cars increases on a daily basis.

We have to give more and more attention to holding seminars to raise awareness among the various levels of our society. To awaken people and teach the new generation not to be too dependent on the government to find them jobs or fix their front yards. Instead, they need to help the government to stand on its feet. We can use this opportunity to build a strong nation whose citizens feel responsible for protecting it and know the limits of what they should ask the government for.

We need to start to encourage local peasants to revive agriculture and put tariffs on imports so that people will buy local produce. This way we can provide more jobs and enhance economic growth.

When we are ready and healthy, then and only then will independence have significance and be a meaningful thing.

Bewar Rwandzi is an MA student of International Studies at the University of Kurdistan, Hewler

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