The Root Causes for Terrorist Organizations’ Longevity: An Analysis Focused on the PKK Terrorist Organization, 1978-2022

30.06.2022 | Sertaç Canalp KORKMAZ

The PKK terrorist organization, which was formed in 1978, continues to exist as of 2022. The PKK, which has been surviving for 44 years in a region that can be considered as a heart of the Middle East, is one of the rare examples with its longevity. Because, while some terrorist organizations survived for a few years, some even disappeared within one year, there are also few terrorist organizations that have existed for more than 40 years. Even there is decreasing in recruitment of militants, propaganda activities and financial revenues from time to time, the PKK’s longevity for 44 years shows that it is the case that needs to be examined. In the last 44 years, Turkish security forces (Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish Police, Turkish Intelligence, Gendarmerie) neutralized thousands of PKK militants during the fight against the terrorist organization, and even succeed to capture the leader of the terrorist organization. However, the reasons such as the having main facilities out of the Türkiye and the political and economic support it has received at the regional and international level have been the main factors that provided the survival of the terrorist organization. In this study, the reasons that enabled the PKK to survive for a long time, such as 44 years, are evaluated descriptively through the approaches of how terrorist organizations survived and ended in the literature of terrorism studies.

Korkmaz, S.C. (2022). The Root Causes for Terrorist Organizations’ Longevity: An Analysis Focused on the PKK Terrorist Organization, 1978-2022. Journal of Terrorism and Radicalization Studies, 1(2), pp.278-309, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/trad.10