Language Policy and Kurdish Identity since 2003

Abstract

Contemporary debates on multiculturalism, literary studies, nationalism, and linguistic rights often find language policy scholars and politics researchers at crossroads. This paper aims at assessing the difficulties and building bridges between scholars of language and cultural policies and political theory regarding Kurdistan Region-Iraq case. The sections map out the descriptions of the debates and potential contributions that political theory can make to language-cultural policy and vice-versa. The paper provides insights on how language policy evolved in Kurdistan Region of Iraq from 2003 to date. This is a particularly remarkable period of Kurdish people’s history as they have enjoyed an autonomous status within Federal Iraq. The paper also offers an appraisal of current research, areas of contest and a framework for future interdisciplinary inquiry on the complex interface between language, culture, power and ethics. This collection will be useful for scholars from diverse fields with interests in contemporary societal debates in which language and culture play an important and central role.