Interview with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihat Ali ÖZCAN: The PKK Terrorist Organization Since it’s Foundation

30.06.2022 | Erol BURAL

The PKK terrorist organization, which was founded on the basis of the Marxist-Leninist ideology, has killed thousands of people and injured more than that, with the actions it has carried out since 1978. With its actions, it affected Turkey's economic, political and social structure and left its mark on the country's domestic and foreign agenda. For this reason, Journal of Terrorism and Radicalization Studies – TRAD devoted its second issue to the PKK terrorist organization and discussed the PKK problem with all its dimensions. In this context, we have interviewed with Assoc. Prof. Nihat Ali ÖZCAN about; the reasons for the emergence of the PKK terrorist organization, how and with what methods the organization should be approached, the ideological foundations of the PKK, the organizational model of the PKK, and what will hapen in the future. We think that Mr. ÖZCAN's views are very important and stimulating as he is the first academician to complete his doctoral thesis on the PKK In 1999, when the PKK problem peaked in Türkiye. ÖZCAN's doctoral thesis was later published as a book under the title "PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party)-History, Ideology and Method". ÖZCAN still works at TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Department of International Relations and also at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV).

Bural, E.B. (2022). Interview with Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nihat Ali ÖZCAN: The PKK Terrorist Organization Since it’s Foundation. Journal of Terrorism and Radicalization Studies, 1(2), pp.187-201, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/trad.7