Kurdish Studies over the past half century has made notable strides reflecting the increasing importance of the Kurds in Middle Eastern Studies and the rise of the Internet that connects Kurdish scholars around the globe. The emergence and mobilization of a Kurdish diaspora has also significantly contributed to the progression of Kurdish Studies as reflected in the establishment of supporting institutions such as the Kurdish Institute in Paris, the Centre for Kurdish Studies at Exeter University in the UK, and the Kurdish Studies Network via the Internet, among others. The latter began as an email discussion list, but has grown to become a valuable meeting place where Kurdish scholars learn about new publications, help each other find relevant sources, and remain informed about new developments. In 2013, the Kurdish Studies Network began publishing a peer-reviewed academic journal, Kurdish Studies, which promises to be more successful than earlier attempts such as the International Journal of Kurdish Studies and the Journal of Kurdish Studies, among others. Kurdish Studies now appear in such disciplines as history, political science, literature and oral tradition, ethnography, archaeology, cultural studies, political economy, demography, criminology, and legal studies, among others, and include such specific research topics as contemporary Kurdish political movements, the suppression of Kurdish rights, gender studies, religion, and literature, among numerous others. Most impressively, the sheer volume of published research in scholarly journal articles and books has grown almost exponentially over the past 50 years. The number of doctoral dissertations on Kurdish subjects has also increased dramatically, one study showing a mere 4 in the 1970s but already 18 in the 2010s. The Kurdish language, seemingly on the way to oblivion 50 years ago, has also blossomed as restrictions have been lifted on its use. Indeed the geographical separation of Kurdish Studies has partially lost its relevance given the Internet and an over-all scholarly field characterized by transnational relations. Nevertheless distinct geographical traditions in Kurdish Studies remain. The purpose of this panel is to survey the state of Kurdish Studies 50 years on in general and specifically in Europe, the United States, and Turkey, among others, based on the surveying and reading of Kurdish scholarly activities outlined above.