Explaining the Severity of the Turkey-PKK Conflict

This study analyzes the Turkey-PKK conflict, utilizing a comprehensive dataset of deaths from 1984 to 2021. The article examines various correlative factors, including the strategies of the PKK and the Turkish government, regional dynamics, and the leadership of the PKK, to evaluate their impact on the number of deaths in the conflict. The results are meticulously compared to draw a well-founded conclusion. The findings indicate that the conflict was more deadly in the years between 1984 and 1999 than in the periods of 2004-2012, and 2004-2012 was more deadly than in the periods of 2015-2021. The study delves into the contributing factors to explain the variance and assesses the severity of the conflict, rather than its size. The Turkey-PKK conflict serves as a compelling example for understanding and analyzing the variations in violence observed during conflicts across different regions globally.