Edited by Stefano M. Torelli

Kurdistan is an unsolved puzzle in Middle Eastern politics. The debate about the status of the various Kurd-majority areas has been ongoing in the international community for decades but the issue has never really become front-page news. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a clear-cut response to the problem has never been devised. While some propose to create an independent state, others would opt for greater autonomy for the Kurds within their respective countries or, conversely, suggest to totally assimilate Kurd minorities. Indeed, the Kurds have been almost constantly ignored by leaders in international and Middle Eastern politics and relegated to a condition of marginalization in the region.