The Kurds are the worlds' largest ethnic group without a state of their own. Most live in the mountainous region historically known as Kurdistan; however, this region, which includes parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, never existed as a political entity. Under the rule of others, the Kurds were discriminated against and sometimes persecuted, so the dream of a national home holds a powerful grip on the Kurdish imagination. Many Kurds hope that the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan will break away from Iraq and form a separate and independent state. This book examines the economic and political issues facing the Kurdish people today. It provides up-to-date information about the geography and climate of the areas in which the Kurds live, the history of this ethnic group and its society, important Kurdish cities and communities, and the Kurds' relations with the governments of the countries in which they live.

Introduction -- Place in the world -- The land -- The history -- The economy, politics, and religion -- The people -- Cities and communities -- Foreign relations -- Chronology -- Series glossary.