Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern Politics

210 Pages·2016·1.836 MB·English

by  Alex Danilovich

Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern Politics
The changes brought by the Arab Spring and ensuing developments in the Middle East have
made the Kurds an important force in the region. Tel-Aviv and Washington place high hopes on
Erbil to facilitate their dealings with Baghdad, Damascus, Teheran and Ankara. Kurds living in
Turkey, Syria and Iran have been inspired by the successes of their brethren in Iraq who
managed to gain significant independence and make remarkable achievements in state building.
The idea of a greater Kurdistan is in the air.
This book focuses on how the Kurds have become a new and significant force in Middle
Eastern politics. International expert contributors conceptualize current developments putting
them into theoretical perspective, helping us to better understand the potential role the Kurds
could play in the Middle East.
Alex Danilovich lectures in Comparative Politics at the University of Kurdistan-Hawler in
Iraq. He is the author of Russian-Belarusian Integration: Playing Games Behind the Kremlin
Walls (Ashgate 2006), Iraqi Federalism and the Kurds: Learning to Live Together (Ashgate
2014) and is co-author of Kazakhstan: Contemporary Politics (EastBridge 2009).
‘This book brings together the analyses of a group of scholars intimately familiar with the
Kurdish issue, international relations, federalism and U.S. foreign policy towards the Kurds.
Together they objectively pose a series of hard and extremely timely questions regarding the
past, present and future of the Kurds in Iraq. Academics, policy makers and general readers
alike will all find plenty of food for thought in this fine volume’.
Professor David Romano, Thomas G. Strong Chair in Middle East Politics, Missouri State University, USA, author of
The Kurdish Nationalist Movement and co-editor of Conflict, Democratization and the Kurds in the Middle East
‘This work provides a remarkable, if not unique, analysis of Iraqi Kurdistan. Despite all the
problems it faces – some of them stemming from tribal traditions – this autonomous entity has
become a significant force in Middle Eastern politics. A team of excellent specialists covers
the overall spectrum of a region, which might become independent. An achievement which
helps the understanding of a complex reality’.
Professor Gerard Chaliand, Nanyang University, Singapore and expert on non-conventional warfare
‘This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to understand Iraqi Kurdistan, which has
become a kind of microcosm for the turbulent Middle East. The contributors to the book shed
light on the complex and controversial issue of Kurdistan’s independence, analyzing it from
different historical, geographical, economic and political perspectives. As such it should
interest laymen, scholars and students of the history of the Middle East. Kurdish intellectuals
and politicians who are engaged in drawing the future of this entity may also gain insight from
the discussion in the different chapters which raise a lot of question marks regarding the
understanding of the dynamics in Iraqi Kurdistan and has far reaching effects on the Kurds in a
Greater Kurdistan as well’.
Professor Ofra Bengio, Tel Aviv University, Israel, author of The Kurds of Iraq: Building a State within a State and
editor of Kurdish Awakening: Nation Building in a Fragmented Homeland
Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern Politics
Edited by Alex Danilovich
First published 2017
by Routledge
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© 2017 selection and editorial matter, Alex Danilovich; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Alex Danilovich to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN: 978-1-138-20447-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-46841-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Out of House Publishing
Contents
List of figures
List of contributors
Preface
List of abbreviations
Introduction
New opportunities for the Kurds
Part I: Soul searching
Part II: Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern politics
Part I
Soul searching
1 Learning from history: Kurdish nationalism and state-building efforts
Anwar Anaid
The historical background of Kurdish nationalism
The onset of Kurdish nationalism
The Kurds in Iraq
Attempts at statehood and causes for failure
The Kurdistan region in the context of the post-1991 regional and global changes
Prospect for independence and the KRG’s current socio-economic policies
Conclusion
2 New horizons: Iraqi federalism
Alex Danilovich
Federalism: A technological solution to human problems
Iraqi federalism: Constitutional design and reality
Conclusion
3 Rebels without a cause? A historicist analysis of Iraqi Kurdistan’s current political and
economic development and prospects for independence
Nigel M. Greaves
Kurdish nationalism and difference
Kurdish nationalism and Islam
Modernity and ideology
Kurdish political parties and political culture
Gorran and tradition
Governmental elitism
Economy and orientalism
Dubai-ification
Conclusion
4 Erecting buildings, erecting a state: public perception of Kurdish statehood
Umut Kuruuzum
Modern buildings in Erbil
Narratives of modern buildings
Conclusion
Part II
Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern politics
5 Oil, the Kurds, and the drive for independence: an ace in the hole or joker in the pack?
Francis Owtram
Introduction: Oil, independence and the divisive lines of Sykes-Picot
Analytical aims, theoretical framework and structure of the chapter
Oil, the Kurds and the creation of the modern Middle East state system
The Kurds and western intervention, 1991–2001: From no-fly zones to regime change
From 9/11 to US withdrawal from Iraq
Iraq, the Kurds and oil resources since the Arab Spring
Conclusion
6 Kurdistan’s independence and the international system of sovereign states
Ryan D. Griffiths
The sovereignty club
The evolving recognition regime
Iraqi Kurdistan and independence
Conclusion
7 Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdistan Federal Region: Bonds of friendship
Sara Salahaddin Mustafa and Sardar Aziz
Literature on oligarchy capitalism
Turkey-KRG relations: Origins and recent developments
Turkey’s new thinking
The KRG, an active non-state actor
The delicate context of the Turkey-KRG relationship
KRG benefits of friendship with Turkey
An asymmetric relationship
An anonymous friendship: Introducing the main players
Turkey eyes Iraqi Kurdistan
The Turkey–KRG–Iran triangle
Turkey and the idea of KRG independence
Conclusion
8 The Kurdish issue on the USA foreign policy agenda
Paula Pineda
Introduction
The US and the Kurds
Analytical framework
Instrumental motivations
The dominance of instrumental considerations in past US Policy
Affective motivations
Current US protection of the Kurdistan region
Perception of Kurds as integral to aims in Iraq
Kurdish mobilization in Iraq and US policy
Kurdish disappointment with US policy
Possibility of Iraq’s disintegration
Conclusion
Conclusion
Index
Figures
4.1 The west side of Erbil
4.2 Downtown Erbil project by Emaar Properties in the west side of Erbil
4.3 New Park View residence compound
4.4 Billboards depicting the future life of a residential complex
4.5 Billboards depicting the future life of a residential complex
4.6 Refugees living at a hotel construction site near the Dream City
6.1 Kurdistan and Independence
Contributors
Editor
Alex Danilovich lectures in comparative politics at the University of Kurdistan-Hawler in
Iraq. He is the author of Russian-Belarusian integration: Playing games behind the
Kremlin walls (Ashgate 2006), Iraqi federalism and the Kurds: Learning to live together
(Ashgate 2014) and is co-author of Kazakhstan: Contemporary politics (EastBridge
2009).
Contributors
Dr Anwar Anaid, PhD, University of Sydney
Dr Sardar Azeez, PhD, University College Cork and Sara Salahaddin Mustafa
Dr Nigel M. Greaves, PhD, University of Northampton
Dr Ryan D. Griffiths, PhD, Columbia University
Umut Kuruuzum, PhD Candidate in Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political
Science
Dr Francis Owtram, PhD, London School of Economics
Dr Paula Pineda, PhD, Houston University