Transition Year Geography

Introduction: The Forgotten Frontline

In the landscape of modern geopolitics, few stories are as compelling, complex, or tragic as that of the Kurdish people. Often described as the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own, the Kurds occupy a pivotal position at the heart of the Middle East. Yet, despite their significant role in global events—from the defeat of ISIS to the shifting alliances of the Cold War—their history and political aspirations remain largely misunderstood or entirely absent from standard curricula.

This ebook has been developed as a resource for Transition Year (TY) educators. It aims to provide a comprehensive, accessible and critical framework for teaching students about "The Kurdish Question."

Why Teach Kurdish Geopolitics?

The Kurdish struggle is not just a regional issue; it is a lens through which students can examine the most fundamental concepts of 21st-century politics:

• Nationalism vs. Sovereignty: How is a nation defined when it lacks a physical border?

• The "Great Game": How global powers utilise or abandon stateless actors to suit their own strategic interests.

How to Use This Resource

This book is designed with the TY philosophy in mind: independent thinking and active learning. Inside, you will find a breakdown of the key historical turning points in the Kurdish story like the Treaty of Lausanne as well as an analysis of how the disperal of the Kurds into a number of different countries has affected the lives of millions of people.

The goal of this text is not to provide a single narrative, but to equip your students with the tools to navigate a world where borders are often written in ink, but lived in blood and resistance.