Political Scientist Sumantra Bose and Philosopher Dominique Bourg have sent messages of support for the ongoing peace process.
Sumantra Bose, Professor of Political Science, expressed his support for the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Mr. Öcalan’s call on February 27. In his message, he stated:
“The Kurdish question in Turkey deserves a just resolution. I have been interested in the Kurdish struggle for rights and freedom for some 35 years, from the time I was an undergraduate studying in the United States. I have closely followed the tortuous, turbulent course of that struggle ever since. There have been moments of hope, but also periods of utter despair. Today, a viable, democratic resolution to this protracted conflict is tantalizingly visible on the horizon. I hope and pray that it does not prove to be a mirage.
“As a scholar of peace processes and peace settlements in such disputes, I know that the path to a substantive and lasting peace will not be easy. But I call upon all concerned to seize this moment of hope. The world will celebrate a successful outcome, and those involved in its making will have their names inscribed on a roll of honour in the annals of history. The volatile, violent region of the world in which this conflict is located will set an example--of peace, not war.
“In the coming years, I hope to teach my students how that was achieved, despite the formidable odds and the burdens of the recent past. Please accept my fraternal greetings and warmest wishes for your people, who have endured and suffered so much and for so long in a just cause.”
Similarly, philosopher Dominique Bourg has also sent a message of support regarding the Peace and Democratic Society Process:
“The Kurdish people's struggle for their rights is one of the most emblematic in the world. I fully support the political will to continue this struggle in a peaceful and democratic manner. The necessary legal and judicial steps must be taken for this will to become a reality, and all obstacles to democratic politics must be removed. The active participation of Kurds in politics is essential for Turkey’s democratization. I see that Kurdish politicians are aware of this responsibility in Turkey’s historic peace process. I hope peace prevails.”
Sumantra Bose is an Indian political scientist known for his extensive research on national self-determination conflicts across South Asia, the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean. He received his PhD in political science from Columbia University in 1998. After serving nearly two decades as Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), he now holds a professorship in the same field at Krea University in India.
Dominique Bourg is a French-Swiss environmental philosopher known for his work on sustainability, the ecological crisis, and democracy. He taught for many years as a professor at the Institute for Environmental Sciences and Policies at the University of Lausanne. Actively engaged in public debate, he is recognized as an influential voice analyzing the limits of the modern growth paradigm, the political consequences of environmental degradation, and the transformations needed for a more resilient democracy. He has also contributed to various international committees and think tanks dedicated to developing environmental policy.
12 December 2025