Understanding the Cultural Background of the Kurds, Outline Example

Introduction

The Kurdish society or the “Kurds” are noted to come from the Middle East. They are considered to be part of the Iranian society and are noted as an indigenous ethnic minority in the country. It could be understood that somehow, their existence in the society is rather regarded unimportant as there are some areas in Iran that even give members of this ethnic group less importance than necessary. Governed by the principles of Islamic religion, the Kurds are very specific with their traditions and cultures being recognized properly, nevertheless, because of the fact that they are given less regard by their own communities, the Kurds have been dispersed towards the different areas in Eastern Europe hence taking roots in foreign lands and redeveloping their cultures in response to modernity in their new locations of residence.

Possible Sources of Research

Bois, Th.; Minorsky, V.; Bois, Th.; Bois, Th.; MacKenzie, D.N.; Bois, Th. “Kurds, Kurdistan.” Encyclopaedia of Islam.

Bulent Gokay, The Kurdish Question in Turkey: Historical Roots, Dometic Concerns and International Law, in Minorities, Peoples and Self-Determination, Ed. by Nazila Ghanea and Alexandra Xanthaki, 352 pp., Martinus Nijhoff/Brill Publishers, 2005. (p.332).

Leach, E.R. 1938. Social and Economic Organization of the Rowanduz Kurds. London School of Economics Monographs on Social Anthropology 3:1–74.

P.G. Kreyenbroek, S. Sperl, The Kurds: a contemporary overview, 272 pp., Routledge Publishers, 1991. p.11.

Primary Sustenance

The Kurds, being noted as “people of the mountain” are known to get their resources of livelihood from farming and stock-breeding which primary started in the Zagros Mountains and later on moved to the southeast direction where there are more pastures that emerged. From the primitive way of agricultural practice, the Kurds learned new ways of herding so as to support the growing number of their population. Although there are still at least 34% of Kurds following the same track of livelihood at present, a larger population of the members of the ethnic group are now following the tracks of modernity as they embraces a social state of life in other more urbanized areas of the world.

Cultural Aspects for Research

• Social Organization

Taking from the historical accounts that describe the past of the Kurds, their social structure often included tribal differences and cultural division. Nonetheless, the entrant of the Ottoman Empire provided them a sense of organization that lead them towards the understanding they need regarding political arrangements. This is why when the Ottoman Empire has been abolished, the Kurds themselves created a political setup that does not only respond to their cultural roots but also their traditions at the same time.

• Beliefs and Values

Considering that the Kurds have been brought up under the Islamic religion and its principles, it could be identified that up to the current era of modern development, most Kurds still embrace the said religious affiliation whether or not they stay within their own territories or original countries of residence. Understandably though, there are already some groups of Kurds who have emerged from modern ways of living who have also incorporated modern ways of religious tradition to the original ways of their worship which includes both the rituals and the celebrations they recognize as part of their definitive culture.

• Social Change

The impact of globalization in the living culture of modern Kurds introduces these individuals to new phenomenon of livelihood. While some members of the ethnic group remaining intact with their beliefs and their original sources of livelihood, a greater number of the said groups population embraced modernity and the livelihood the global industries offer. Still facing a great deal of discrimination from among other members of the community, it could be understood that the Kurds are in need of creating a more relative indication of their identity as a group rather than a scattered society in all the different parts of the world.