Browsing by Subject "Iraq"

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12

Open Access
Clash of interest over northern Iraq drives Turkish-Israeli alliance to a crossroads
(Middle East Institute, 2005) Kibaroglu, M.
Turkey and Israel enjoyed an almost perfect relationship throughout the 1990s that amazed their friends, yet bothered their rivals. The US war in Iraq revealed, however, that the two longstanding allies did indeed have contradictory objectives and concerns with respect to the future restructuring of Iraq. While Turkey fears the emergence of an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq, the same possibility seems favorable for Israel from its security standpoint, vis-à-vis threats posed by countries like Iran, Pakistan, and beyond. It appears that the "amazing alliance" is heading toward a crossroads. Such an eventuality may change the nature of the relationship from a "win-win" to a "lose-lose" situation unless proper steps are rapidly taken with a view toward rebuilding confidence on both sides.
Open Access
The effectiveness of international regimes in states with low internal capacity : a study of international refugee regime in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan
(2013) Güler, Arzu
Nearly one out of the six states in the world is regarded with low internal capacity by the Failed State Index 2012. However, having a priori assumption on states’ internal capacity to take decisions and implement them within their own states, scholarly attention has been given to the factors that shape states’ behaviors towards international regimes, mainly discussing under what conditions states will comply with them. Thus, the literature on international regimes neglected to study the effectiveness of international regimes in the states with low internal capacity. This dissertation deals with the research question of how the presence of states with low internal capacity creates implications for the effectiveness of iv international regimes and how regimes’ institutions can operate in such states to increase regime effectiveness. I examine this research question through quantitative and qualitative analyses and with a specific reference to the 4Rs activities of the international refugee regime in three refugee producing countries, namely Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan. I argue that international refugee regime was not effective in these countries and I propose six tentative principles to UNHCR and its implementing partners to increase the effectiveness of international refugee regime in refugee producing countries with low internal capacity: providing civilian security, overcoming socio-cultural and religious conservatism, increasing government capacity and willingness to cooperate with international community, building trust among local people towards international community and increasing their support for regime activities.
Open Access
Examining leaders' orientations to structural constraints: Turkey's 1991 and 2003 Iraq war decisions
(Palgrave Macmillan Ltd., 2017) Cuhadar E.; Kaarbo, J.; Kesgin, B.; Taner, B. O.
Explanations of states' security decisions prioritise structural - systemic, institutional and cultural - constraints that characterise foreign security decisions as a function of external/international, domestic/institutional, or normative/cultural factors. By examining Turkey's 1990-1991 and 2003 Iraq war decisions systematically, we problematise this prioritisation of structure, and we investigate the dynamic relationship between structural constraints and leaders in their decision-making environments. In these cases, while the structural constraints remain constant or indeterminate, the decision outcomes and the decision-making process differ significantly. Our findings, based on structured-focused comparison, process tracing, and leadership trait analysis, suggest that the leaders' personalities and how they react to constraints account for this difference and that dependence on only one set of factors leads to an incomplete understanding of security policies and international politics. We contribute to the broader understanding of leaders' personalities by suggesting that self-confidence and cognitive complexity are the key traits distinguishing leaders' orientations towards structural constraints. © 2016 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
Open Access
The impact of 2003 us-led invasion on the rise of terrorism in Iraq
(2016-06) Ağalday, Burak
The thesis argues that the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq has created the contributing factors for the rise of radicalism and the rise of violent organizations in Iraq. In this study, military and political aspects of the US practices in Iraq after the invasion are scrutinized to highlight the contributing factors that have led to radicalism and emergence of an alleged state, the ISIS, and violent organizations. The study illustrates how the US-led invasion for "War on Terror" has turned out to be a contributing factor for radicalism and terrorism. Firstly, the conditions that promote terrorism are highlighted depending on the large-N studies in the literature. Secondly, how the US political and military practices in Iraq have paved the way for these conditions are analyzed based on two indicators, namely political discrimination and seeking for revenge. In addition, the problem that how these two indicators influenced people’s decision to join the violent organizations is highlighted. As a result of this study, I find that the US involvement in Iraq in the name of "War on Terror" has contributed to the rise of terrorism.
Open Access
The Iraq conflict and its security implications for Turkey (2003-2007)
(2007) Türken, Anıl
This thesis evaluates the security threats posed to Turkey after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. The newly emerging federal, democratic Iraqi state and its political, economic and ethnic make up is analyzed in detail in order to demonstrate the threats it may pose to Turkish national security. The thesis looks at the links between the terrorist organization the PKK and the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq, as well as outlining mistakes of Turkish foreign policy in the region that have led to the current impasse. The Turkmen minority in Iraq, the status of Kirkuk and other disputed territories, as well as Iraqi and Kurdish legislation on Iraq’s energy resources are also analyzed. This thesis aims to draw a roadmap for Turkish foreign policy in the region that would avoid past mistakes and address security concerns for the future, while guaranteeing Iraq’s territorial integrity.
Open Access
The Iraq war, Turkey, and renewed caspian energy prospects
(Middle East Institute, 2008) Williams, P. A.; Tekin, A.
Many have linked the US-led invasion of Iraq to its oil resources, leading some observers to question Caspian energy prospects. This article analyzes how the Iraqi occupation and Caspian oil prospects have been inter-linked, via the evolution of American and Turkish assessments of Iraq and the Caspian region. It shows that, contrary to initial expectations, the occupation of Iraq bolstered the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project as well as a number of other increasingly significant natural gas export pipelines.
Open Access
The Iraqi Turkmen (1921-2005)
(2005) Kayılı, Ali Gökhan
This thesis evaluates the situation of the Iraqi Turkmen between 1921-2005 in terms of the important developments in Iraq. The Iraqi Turkmen could not organize politically due to the oppressive Iraqi regimes in the period between 1921-1991. They started to carry out political activities openly after the Gulf War II in Northern Iraq. The Turkmen who are the third largest ethnic population in Iraq, pursue the policy of keeping the integrity of Iraqi territory, enjoying the same equal rights as the other ethnic groups and being a founding member in the constitution. The Turkmen are still maintaining their political activities to prove their existence in Iraq even in 2005. Turkey has defended the idea that the Turkmen should have the same political, social and cultural rights as the other ethnic groups in Iraq. The future of Kirkuk where the Turkmen live would be a model for Iraq or the start of serious conflicts.
Open Access
Oil and intra-state conflict in Iraq and Syria: sub-state actors and challenges for Turkey’s energy security
(Routledge, 2017) İpek, Pınar
The continuing dependency on fossil fuels of the Middle East not only in Turkey's energy mix but also in world energy demand requires further analysis of oil and conflict in the region since the fall of Mosul in Iraq to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in June 2014. This article addresses the relationship between oil and conflict. Then, it examines the case of Turkey's increasing energy relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government to elucidate the implications of inter-state and intra-state conflict on regional interdependence in the region. The argument asserts that risks of an abrupt regime change or revolutionary regime formation in the aftermath of civil war in Syria and ethnic or sectarian violence in Iraq, which are highly associated with intra-state conflicts, present challenges for Turkey's energy security and most importantly for human security in the region.
Open Access
Projections for the geopolitical economy of oil after war in Iraq
(Pergamon Press, 2006) Williams, P. A.
How are events surrounding the latest Iraq war shaping the future global political economy of oil? The saliency of Iraq's oil resources suggests a trend towards intensified great-power competition to dominate energy-rich provinces and transportation corridors. Yet, the nature of the oil trade, Iraq's insurrection, and Sino-American economic interdependence indicate barriers to unilateral attempts to control energy supplies. Based on examination of the Iraq conflict's unintended stimulus to terrorism and to China's search for foreign oil supplies, this paper assesses three possible scenarios: 'multiple energy insecurity' (great-power competition and violent non-state reaction); 'mutual energy securitisation' (inter-state collusion against non-state resource claimants); and 'multiple energy security' (great-power curtailment of geographically expansive energy consumption). It finds that the increasing problems associated with the first two alternatives are inducing decision-makers to contemplate policy options consistent with the third scenario.
Open Access
The ‘Rojava revolution’ in Syrian Kurdistan: a model of development for the middle east?
(Institute of Development Studies, 2016) Cemgil, C.; Hoffmann, C.
As the civil war in Syria continues, in the territory of Rojava - in Kurdish, ‘the West’ - the northern Syrian Kurdish political movement is attempting to implement ‘libertarian municipalism’, based on the thoughts of United States (US) anarchist Murray Bookchin. Since the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces in 2012, the movement has consolidated significant territorial gains as a US ally in the anti-Islamic State (IS) struggle, while simultaneously securing Russian support. Viewed with suspicion by Turkey, Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan, the geopolitical conditions of Rojava’s emergence are its greatest impediment. This article analyses Rojava’s model of rule and socioeconomic development, and its theory and practice in the context of the civil war, and regional Middle Eastern and wider global geopolitics. It reflects on Rojava’s place and meaning for contemporary geopolitics in the Middle East, and considers the territory’s prospects, discussing its transformative potential for an otherwise troubled region. © 2016 The Authors and Institute of Development Studies.
Open Access
The role of natural resources during the state building process : the case of Iraq
(2009) Tulun, Teoman Ertuğrul
This thesis evaluates the relevance of natural resources during the state building process. In order to achieve its aim the thesis provides the reader with the relevant definitions. These include the definitions of state, nation building and state building. The thesis looks at the theories of state building. These are the Fast- Track Democratization, Security Firsters and Slow Democratization. It then provides the historical and current context of state building activities. It covers state building and the major state building actors since the end of World War One. Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Belgian Congo, and Bosnia as well as the role of United Nations, the United States of America and the European Countries and institutions are briefly given as examples of state building in different historical periods. This is continued by the analyses of state building activities in Iraq, from its inception until today. The case of Iraq is used to analyze the relevance of natural resources in the state building process. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that natural resources play an important role in Iraq´s state building process while a success depends on how the distribution, management and ownership of oil and gas resources will evolve.
Open Access
Sunnism versus Shi'ism? : rise of the Shi'i politics and the Ottoman apprehension in late nineteenth century Iraq
(2008) Yaslıçimen, Faruk
The resurgence of religious political activism had predominantly been one of the foremost themes of structural transformations among societies during the nineteenth century. The major characteristic regarding the history of religion in the Middle Eastern context was a bilateral process, that of the mobilization of society and of the consolidation of organized social movements followed by a subsequent process of politicization. As for the Iraqi region, the influence of Shi’ism increased over certain segments of society thus “the spread of Shi’ism” primarily meant the increased activity and organization of Shi’i communities, which increased their weight in political spectrum rather than the magnitude of “the spread” itself. There were internal and external reasons for the rise of Shi’i politics. On the one hand, the intensifying governmental cohesion over the very segments of society during the process of centralization deeply influenced the existing social structure through dislocating various populations and many large tribal confederations. On the other hand, the rise of Usulism at the expense of the Akhbari interpretation of the Shi’i jurisprudence generated an innovative tendency, stimulating the Shi’i scholars to understand and interpret the worldly affairs in a different manner. It gave an impetus and a peculiar function to the position of Shi’i clerical notables, particularly the mujtahids, consolidating their authority in social as well as political matters. The growing influence of Shi’ism in the Iraqi region gave rise to Ottoman apprehension. As a common theme in the Ottoman official documentation, a strong emphasis was made upon the seriousness and urgency of “the spread of Shi’ism.” Ottoman officials embraced a policy of educational counter-propaganda to deal with the Shi’i Question. The major strategy, which they utilized, was not the use of forceful measures but the promotion of Sunni education through opening medreses and sending Sunni ulema to the Iraqi region. However, indoctrinating Sunnism at the expense of Shi’ism had much to do with the political unity and the social integrity of the empire rather than the pure religious motivation. This study further examines selected aspects of the social relations between Shi’is and Sunnis of Iraq in the late nineteenth century. However, the strong emphasis is made upon the relations between the Iraqi Shi’is and the Sunni Ottoman government drawing some conclusions on the antagonistic relations between governmental authorities and certain segments of Shi’i masses. This study also discusses a two-dimensional view developed by the Ottoman officials regarding Shi’ism and the Shi’is of Iraq, perceiving the former as a theological deviation from the “true” path of Islam and recognizing the latter as being similar to those of other local figures who made up the Iraqi society.