“The twentieth century saw Kurds suffering from harsh discriminatory and assimilationist polices at the hands of central governments dominated by Turkish, Persian and Arab political elites. With the turn of the twenty-first century, however, the once-marginalized Kurds have emerged as key players in the rapidly changing Middle East. Despite a growing sense of optimism, however, serious obstacles remain as Kurds make progress towards political recognition. In this chapter, the challenges and opportunities the twenty-first century has brought about are examined with the aim of shedding light on domestic, regional and global dynamics in assessing the prospects of Kurdish aspiration for recognition in the new century.”