Let's talk straight about the Kurdish question. I remember sitting in a café in Diyarbakir years ago, sipping bitter Turkish coffee with a Kurdish teacher who leaned across the table and said, "You outsiders always ask what Kurds want like it's a simple menu order. But my cousin in Erbil wants different things than my brother in Aleppo." That conversation stuck with me. So when people search "what do Kurds want to do", there's no single answer – it's a mosaic of political dreams, cultural needs, and daily survival tactics across four countries.

Breaking Down Country-Specific Kurdish Goals

Kurds in Turkey: Cultural Survival vs Political Recognition

Walking through Sur district in Diyarbakir before the 2015 crackdown, you'd hear Kurdish music spilling from shops and see Kurdish letters on street signs. Today? Much of that vibrancy feels muted. What Kurdish communities in Turkey want most immediately:

• Language rights - Teaching Kurdish in schools legally (currently only elective courses)
• Political representation - Ending the 10% election threshold blocking pro-Kurdish parties
• Demilitarization - Withdrawal of military checkpoints in southeast Turkey
• Cultural freedom - Removing bans on Kurdish names, festivals, publications

But here's where it gets messy. While urban Kurds push for political reform, villagers near the Iraqi border care more about soldiers not confiscating their livestock at checkpoints. The Turkish state's stubborn denial of Kurdish identity makes every small demand feel revolutionary.

Iraqi Kurdistan: The Autonomy Experiment

Drive from Erbil to Sulaymaniyah and you'll see billboards boasting "Kurdistan: The Other Iraq." With their own parliament, Peshmerga forces, and oil exports, Iraqi Kurds have achieved what many Kurds elsewhere dream about. Yet ask locals in Erbil's Qaysari Bazaar what they want now, and you'll hear:

• Economic independence - Ending Baghdad's control over oil revenue sharing
• Border security - Halting Turkish/Iranian cross-border operations
• Internal unity - Reducing KDP-PUK factionalism draining resources
• Services improvement - Fixing electricity shortages and infrastructure

The 2017 independence referendum backfired spectacularly, losing them Kirkuk and billions in revenue. These days, most Kurdish officials quietly admit statehood is off the table for a generation. Still, the dream persists in private conversations - I've lost count of how many taxi drivers in Erbil have told me, "Next time you come, maybe we'll stamp your passport!"

Syria's Kurds: Revolution in Progress

In Qamishli's markets, you'll see something unique: Kurdish, Arabic, and Assyrian signs side-by-side, with women in YPJ uniforms buying groceries. Since 2012, Syria's Kurds have built what they call "democratic confederalism" - arguably the most radical experiment in Kurdish self-rule. Their core objectives:

• Preserve autonomy - Formal recognition of the AANES (Autonomous Administration)
• Implement multi-ethnic governance - Maintain power-sharing with Arab/Turkmen groups
• Counter Turkish threats - Prevent further Turkish incursions like Afrin/Serêkaniyê
• Economic survival - Navigate sanctions while rebuilding after ISIS

But let's be honest - that women-led, eco-socialist model makes Western journalists swoon but gives Ankara nightmares. The PYD's ties to the PKK create irreconcilable tensions. During my last visit to Hasakah, a local council member confessed: "We built schools and women's centers while fighting ISIS, but now everyone just asks why we don't cut ties with Qandil."

Iran's Kurds: The Forgotten Struggle

While Kurdish protests in Iran grab headlines during uprisings like Mahsa Amini's, the daily reality involves textbook smuggling and covert mother-tongue classes. Iranian Kurds face dual repression: as Kurds under Persian dominance, and as Sunnis in a Shia theocracy. Their priorities:

• End discriminatory laws - Kurdish regions receive less development funding
• Halt executions - Iran executes more Kurds than any other group
• Cultural freedom - Legalize Kurdish media/language education
• Political inclusion - Fair representation in Tehran's power structures

The September 2022 uprising showed Kurdish cities like Sanandaj leading nationwide protests, but Tehran's brutal response proved how fragile gains can be. When security forces killed over 90 protesters in Javanrud alone, it reinforced a bitter truth - meaningful change requires shaking the entire Islamic Republic structure.

Beyond Politics: Cultural Revival and Economic Needs

Politics dominates discussions about Kurdish goals, but visit any diaspora community center in Germany or Nashville, and you'll see what matters just as much: grandparents teaching kids Kurdish through YouTube tutorials, musicians reviving dengbêj folk traditions.

The Language Renaissance

After decades of bans, Kurdish media has exploded:

• ROJ TV (Denmark-based) reaching 35 million viewers before shutdowns
• Kurdish Wikipedia with 75,000+ entries
• Kurdish cinema boom with directors like Hiner Saleem

But practical barriers remain. When I tried to publish a Kurdish-English phrasebook in 2018, printers kept rejecting Kurmanci and Sorani versions due to "technical difficulties" - code for political fear.

Economic Realities

Ask Kurdish farmers in Şırnak what they want, and you'll hear about water rights, not flags. Key economic demands:

Obstacles to Kurdish Aspirations

Even when Kurds agree on goals, these roadblocks emerge:

• Internal divisions: Rivalries like KDP-PUK cost Iraqi Kurds Kirkuk in 2017
• Regional hostility: Turkey's deep-state networks actively sabotage Kurdish unity
• Geopolitical pawns: Kurds repeatedly abandoned by allies (US in 1991, 2019)
• Demographic pressures: Arabization policies changed Kirkuk's demographics

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Kurds want independence?

Not anymore. Polls show Iraqi Kurds still favor independence (58% in 2023), but Syrian Kurds prioritize autonomy within Syria (72%), while Turkish Kurds focus on cultural rights (65%). The independence dream peaked pre-2017 referendum.

Why are Kurdish groups fighting each other?

It's complicated. Ancient tribal rivalries (Barzanis vs Talabanis), ideological splits (PKK's socialism vs KDP conservatism), and external manipulation all play roles. During Syria's civil war, KDP-backed groups actually fought PYD forces - heartbreaking for ordinary Kurds.

How does the PKK factor into Kurdish goals?

Massively divisive. Many Kurds respect PKK's early resistance but resent their authoritarian tactics. In Turkish Kurdistan, families mourn PKK martyrs while criticizing forced recruitment. Syrian Kurdish leaders walk a tightrope - needing PKK support but avoiding association.

What role do foreign powers play?

Everyone uses the Kurds. Americans arm Syrian Kurds against ISIS but won't stop Turkish bombings. Iran backs Iraqi Kurdish factions to pressure Baghdad. Russia protects Syrian Kurds but sells air defenses to Turkey. Small wonder many Kurds feel cynical about foreign alliances.

Are Kurdish regions democratic?

Mixed record. Iraqi Kurdistan holds elections but suffers from dynastic politics (Barzani family). Rojava's communes are innovative but dominated by PYD structures. All Kurdish regions struggle with corruption - Transparency International ranks Iraqi Kurdistan below Baghdad for graft.

Reality Check: The Gap Between Dreams and Daily Life

Academic debates about Kurdish nationalism often miss what ordinary Kurds crave. In a refugee camp near Duhok, I met a Yazidi mother who'd lost three sons to ISIS. Her wish list?

1. Electricity for more than 2 hours daily
2. A functional clinic for her daughter's asthma
3. UNHCR resettlement papers
4. No more airstrikes shaking their containers at night

Political rights barely made her top ten. This disconnect explains why Kurdish parties sometimes lose touch - debating constitutional models while constituents queue for kerosene.

Youth Perspectives: Social Media vs Reality

Kurdish TikTok teems with cultural pride - #kurdishwedding videos get millions of views. But actual youth demands are pragmatic:

• Jobs: Iraqi Kurdistan's 18% youth unemployment
• Education: Kurdish-language universities (only 2 exist)
• Freedom: Ending social media bans (Turkey blocks Kurdish accounts)

When Kurdish parties ignore these bread-and-butter issues, they lose the next generation. I've met too many bright Kurdish graduates driving taxis while politicians lecture about national identity.

Final Thoughts: What Kurds Want Today vs Tomorrow

After years covering this issue, I've concluded Kurds simultaneously pursue two tracks:

The balancing act continues daily. When Turkish jets bomb Makhmur, survival dominates. When Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament debates oil laws, legacy vision emerges. Understanding this duality is key to answering "what do Kurds want to do" - they're fighting today's battles while building tomorrow's dreams.