Kurdistan, the land of the Kurds, is not necessarily entirely of Kurdish origins. By this, I mean that many of what we now consider Kurdish cities were not originally Kurdish, and some originate from Armenian or Assyrian roots. The true land of the Kurds lies in the mountains from which Kurds originate, but there are now many Kurdish-established cities; especially in Iraqi Kurdistan. Nonetheless, Kurds consider all Kurdish-majority regions in the Middle East as Kurdistan, and have no interest in non-Kurdish areas.

• Amed (Diyarbakir) is considered the capital of Kurdistan, but is also seen as the capital for Kurds in Bakûr, North Kurdistan (Turkish territory).
  
• Qamişlo‎ (Al-Qamishli) is the capital of Rojava, Western Kurdistan (Syrian territory).
  
• Hewlêr (Erbil) is the capital of Başur, Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi territory).
  
• Mehabad (Mahabad) is the capital of Rojhelat, Eastern Kurdistan (Iranian territory).

As of today, there are two autonomous Kurdish entities; Rojava (Syrian territory) and Başur (Iraqi territory). In these regions, Kurds have established self-determination and a separate government to govern themselves; the two governments cooperate, but until any kind of independence referendum, no unification process can begin. Unlike Rojava (which is a de-facto autonomous region), Başur is recognised as the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, and their autonomy is guaranteed by the Iraqi Constitution[www.iraqinationality.gov.iq], making it the only globally-recognised Kurdistan as of now.


Rojava is a libertarian socialist entity which follows a democratic confederation model of direct democracy, whilst Başur employs a 'big tent' ideology to garner support from people of all political views. Multiple Kurdish parties exist across Kurdistan with differing views on governance. Bakûr is likely to follow Rojava's model whilst Rojhelat is likely to follow Başur's model.