Resurgence and Revolution: The PKK and the Kurdish Fight in Turkey and Syria

A riveting current history of the Kurdish rebel PKK group

Aliza Marcus’ new book tells the remarkable story of Kurdish revolution in the Middle East led by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party)—the rebel group whose insurgency in Turkey has impacted countries, conflicts, and Kurdish demands throughout the region.

Combining reportage and scholarship, Resurgence and Revolution explores the PKK’s resurgence from the brink of defeat after the capture of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 1999, and the brutal internal split that followed. The book tells the story of how Ocalan—operating from prison—reshaped the PKK to extend the group’s influence beyond Turkey’s borders, setting the stage for the group’s dominance of northeastern Syria and the unlikely partnership between its allied forces and the U.S. in the fight against ISIS. Based on interviews with PKK fighters, their supporters, and opponents in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Europe, Marcus traces the group’s ability to maintain power in Turkey and extend its activities across borders, using PKK rebels’ own voices to show why young people join and fight for the group and its affiliates in Syria and Iran.

For the more than 30 million Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria—and for the leaders of these countries—the PKK is a force that cannot be ignored. Understanding the PKK and what drives its supporters is crucial for understanding Kurdish demands and potential solutions.

The fall of the Assad regime, and a new peace process between Turkey and the PKK has changed the dynamics for Kurdish demands and their control over territory in Syria. Resurgence and Revolution is a compelling and necessary read for understanding the impact of a resurgent PKK, the future of the Middle East, and the enduring struggle of the Kurds to rule themselves.