Building Kurdistan: The Diaspora Role

By: Borhan Sadiq   

Feb 27, 2006

If we ponder of development as a set of social, economic, and political freedoms, the vast majority of Kurds were denied and disadvantaged of these freedoms for myriad decades. We also discern that Kurdistan had already been among the meager and least developed nations. On of the key factors was the prolonged years of fraternal war that caused total demolition in Kurdish part.

Members of the Kurdish Diaspora are already a major actor in the renewal of Kurdistan. Prominent Kurdish intellectuals and entrepreneurs have returned home and are actively involved in public and private institutional capacity building. Other resourceful Kurds in developed countries should hound suit to fulfill their dream of helping reconstruct Kurdistan.  

Given Kurdistan’s comprehensive reconstruction and development needs in social, economic, and political spheres, the Kurdish Diaspora can play a substantial role in the overall rebuilding and development of Kurdistan through four main ways: 1) institutional capacity building, 2) business and investment, 3) strengthening civil society, and 4) advocacy.  

I.  Institutional Capacity Building

The in shambles Kurdistan's governance and public-service institutions are in reforming. The country's general challenge of state-building squarely lies in reforming, creating, and building effective institutions to run a modern government. The influx of hundreds of foreign NGOs to Kurdistan is due to lack of local capacity to deliver essential services to the citizens. The Kurdish Diaspora should not sit back and watch this continue. They should fully participate in the rebuilding process of Kurdistan by joining key government institutions in Hewler and Sulimania. This will strengthen the capacity of government institutions subsequently enabling the Kurdish government to takeover the ownership of the rebuilding agenda for execution based on Kurdistan's needs not external prescriptions.

II. Business and Investment

Business investment provides the jobs, the economic development and the hope allowing Kurdistan to break out of the circle of conflict and poverty. Kurdistan's Regional Government considers the private sector as the engine for economic growth and the role of government as facilitator and regulator.

The humanitarian role of the Kurdish Diaspora has to be acknowledged. They have sent millions of dollars to their families and relatives in all parts of Kurdistan (Iran, Syria. Turkey and Iraq). Estimates denote that the Kurd Diaspora’s financial contribution to their families and relatives has soared from millions to tens of millions now and further surging.

While continuing the humanitarian role, Kurd expatriates should take advantage of the very generous business and investment environment in Kurdistan on condition that the KRG facilitates their intentions. Regretfully, this issue has not been unraveled. By being the first movers, they will not only reap substantial profits but also pave the way for foreign direct investment. Unless Kurds with national ties move in first and build confidence in others to invest in Kurdistan, foreign investors would be unlikely to do so.

III. Strengthening Civil Society

Civil society means all civic organizations, associations and networks which occupy the 'social space' between the family and the state except firms and political parties; and who come together to advance their common interests through collective action.

There is emerging a vibrant civil society in Kurdistan and in the Kurd immigrant communities spearheaded by women, intellectuals, and ordinary Kurds opposed to conflict, violence, and factionalism that had ripped apart Kurdistan for many years.

The Kurd Diaspora can play a significant role in strengthening and enabling Kurdistan's civil society at home and abroad to be an effective interest group against socio-economic and political ills in Kurdistan. In most developing and post-conflict countries, civil society is a beacon of hope for realizing the principles of democracy, human rights, and gender equality. Civil society can play the same role in Kurdistan to bolster rule of law and accelerate the overall peace-building process in the country.    

IV. Advocacy

Advocacy is the process of actively speaking out, writing in favor of supporting, and/or acting on behalf of oneself, another person, or a cause.

Kurds' cause is the rebuilding of our country after its complete destruction. The Kurds Diaspora will soon enter its third generation in developed countries and number over millions. In spite of their multiple causes, Kurds do not as yet have a single advocacy group committed to lobbying for Kurdistan. Good lessons can be learned from other North American immigrant communities: Armenians, Indians, Pakistanis, Israelis and others—who are using their resources such as wealth and voting power to bring their home countries' problems to the forefront of the international agenda.

True, the Kurd Diaspora needs to give to our homeland not vice versa when Kurdistan is weak and needs reconstruction. There is a realization that small independent efforts toward a common goal can succeed in turning a country around. There should be a concerted and sustained effort on our part to turn Kurdistan into a model state in the region and the world over. Together Kurds can do it.