TISHK – Center for Kurdistan Studies
About the TISHK Center for Kurdistan Studies
The TISHK Center for Kurdistan Studies is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation established in Germany in 2022. It is a progressive intellectual and research centre devoted to the study of Kurdistan and the Kurdish question in their historical, political, social and cultural contexts.
The Kurdish national question is the central concern of the Center’s research and intellectual work. The Center promotes new interdisciplinary approaches to Kurdish Nationalism and modern national identity in the Middle East, including Iran, and examines their relationships to state power, political movements, culture, language and history. Its work brings historical inquiry into conversation with contemporary political and social analysis, creating space to revisit established interpretations and develop new perspectives on the Kurdish experience.
Our Mission and Goals
The Center’s principal activity is publishing TISHK magazine, a political and intellectual publication that advances critical debate on Kurdistan, Kurdish nationalism and the wider Middle East. The magazine provides a platform for progressive analysis, new ideas and interdisciplinary perspectives, connecting scholarly research with public discussion.
The Center also publishes TISHK Books, Article in Advance, and the blogs Kurdistan Agora and Jiyanewe. Together, these publications support research and debate on Kurdish identity and politics, as well as developments in Kurdistan, Iran and the wider Middle East. Kurdistan Agora and Jiyanewe offer spaces for informed discussion of contemporary political, social and cultural issues.
The Center’s work also addresses democratisation, human rights, gender relations, women’s rights and environmental questions. These themes are considered in relation to the Kurdish national question, Kurdish identity and the political conditions shaping Kurdish life in the Middle East. Through research, publications and public engagement, the Center seeks to develop a deeper understanding of how these issues intersect.
The production and dissemination of knowledge, alongside dialogue that promotes international understanding, are central to the Center’s mission. Through publications, conferences, seminars and workshops, it brings researchers, intellectuals, activists and policymakers into conversation and encourages critical exchange across disciplinary and political boundaries.
The Center works in German, English, Kurdish and Persian to engage diverse academic and public audiences and facilitate the exchange of knowledge across linguistic boundaries.
The Center seeks to build partnerships with universities, research institutions and organisations working in Kurdistan studies and Middle Eastern affairs. By supporting interdisciplinary cooperation, exchanging expertise and sharing resources, it aims to strengthen research and public debate in these fields.
Alongside its research and publishing activities, the Center seeks to support the integration and social inclusion of Kurdish refugees. This may include providing resources and programmes that facilitate participation in local community life, promote intercultural exchange and support the protection of refugees’ rights.
Through its publications, research, partnerships and public engagement, the TISHK Center seeks to strengthen Kurdistan studies and contribute to progressive, interdisciplinary debate on Kurdistan, Iran and the Middle East.