Similarities Between ISIS And The Kurds

The Kurds are an Iranian ethnic group that is located in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. They are a group that is not located centrally. The Kurds are located in all four of the countries listed. The Kurds were promised a state of their own after World War I. There was a treaty in 1920 that was revoked from them. The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state (O’Leary 17). They are currently fighting to gain their own state. They want to be officially recognized as a state called Kurdistan. Even though the Kurds are identified as an ethnic group, there is diversity between their beliefs and religion. The majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims. Along with Sunni Muslims, there are Shi’a and Yezidi Kurds, and Christians who identify themselves as Kurds.
At least 25 million people call them selves part of the Kurdish community. Analyzing the current situation between ISIS and the Kurds, it most closely represents the point of view of a realist. Realism is defined as when states work only to increase their own power relative to that of other states. Realism claims that the world is a harsh and dangerous place. The only thing certain in the world is that there is power. The state is the most important actor in the international system and a state that is powerful can always beat out weaker competitors and threats. Realism also thinks that the most important source or form of power is the power found in military. According to realism, the international system itself drives states to use military force and to war. This could be the one of the reasons as to why the Kurds are helping the U.S. They are doing it for their own gain only. The Kurds have relied on by the U.S because they are not strong enough to fight on their