The Assessment of Political Implications of Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) on Kurds

Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is one of the largest dams in the whole world, located in Turkish Kurdistan.Delphi method andBarryBuzan’s regional security complex theorywere used as our research methods. The question we’re addressing in this study is “what are the implications of GAP for Kurds' political participationand Turkey’s national identity?”Based on the research hypothesis, the answer to the research question is that GAP can improve Kurds’ political participation, reduce PKK activities, and change the military nature of Kurds’ attempts to political ones. But GAP won’t lead to a common national identity in Turkey. Delphi results with 60% of the vote suggested that GAP has no impact on PKK activities and it hasn’t improved the political participation of Kurds.Delphi results with 73% of the vote indicated the negative effects of GAP on Kurdish identity. Also, Delphi's results with 82% of the vote showed that GAP didn’t lead to a common national identity in Turkey. GAP had not any significant effect on PKK activities and Kurds’ political participation, and these are affected by other parameters. GAP has adverse consequences for Kurdish identity including the destruction of Kurdish antiquities which are a part of their identity. The identity crisis in Turkey is the result of the denial of Kurdish identity by the Turkish government and acts of violence, lack of racial, cultural, historical, and linguistic affinity of the Kurds with the Turks, and the forced inclusion of the Kurds within the political borders of Turkey. Therefore, due to the suppressive attitude of the Turkish government toward Kurdish regions, approaches such as assimilation and projects like GAP will not yield a common national identity in the country.