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Iraqi Kurdistan in Middle Eastern Politics PDF

210 Pages·2016·1.836 MB·English
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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 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 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 chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. 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

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