Clash of Empires and the Rise of Kurdish Proto-Nationalism, 1905–1926

Mehrdad Kia is the Co-Director of the Central and Southwest Asian Studies Center at the University of Montana, USA, where he is also a professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian history and politics.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. The Political and Cultural Geography of a Tribal Uprising.- 3. The Disintegration of Iran as a Failed State and the Rise of Simko.- 4. The Survivalist Simko.- 5. Simko during the First World War.- 6. Simko and Mar Shimun: The Kurdish-Assyrian War of Survival.- 7. The End of the First World War and Simko's Revolt.- 8. Simko's Wars against Iran.- 9. Simko's Last Battle.- 10. The End of Simko.- 11. Conclusion.

“Kia’s book offers a fresh perspective on Kurdish proto-nationalism and the life and rebellion of Simko Shikak within the broader geopolitics of the early 20th century, making it an essential read for scholars and practitioners interested in Middle Eastern history, early Kurdish history, ethnic conflicts, and the formation of nationalist movements. ... Kia’s book a fundamental contribution to scholarship on Simko, and a valuable read for anyone interested in early 20th century Kurdish and Iranian history.” (Hogr Tarkhani, Kurdish Studies Journal, Vol. 2 (2), December, 2024)