| Abstract [eng] |
The master thesis Turkey and Iran’s Engagement in Iraqi Kurdistan: Defending own Interests or Strengthening of Kurdish Statehood? focuses on the extent of Turkey and Iran’s engagement in Iraqi Kurdistan. The latter is a de facto state which can enjoy the status of autonomy within the Republic of Iraq. This status includes its own military forces, ability of establishing taxes and duties, as well as revoking some laws adopted by the central government in Baghdad. For a long time, external actors had only a few options of communication with de facto states. They could oppose the existence of such units by using military aggression or economic embargos; ignore them by not having relations at all or maintaining contacts through other mediators or international organizations; or partially accept the existence of the de facto state by having formal relations but not strengthening or bolstering them. However, as the number of de facto states is increasing, the need arises to set a new perspective on how de jure states can alternatively interact with the actors that lack international recognition. For this reason, a new approach called engagement without recognition has emerged. This approach entitles the actor to develop positive and pragmatic relations with de facto states and simultaneously not to discuss the issue of recognition of these units seeking de jure status. This policy is based on three essential levels: political-diplomatic, economic and military cooperation. The actor using this strategy can penetrate in unrecognized state, maintain the status quo in the region, as well as enhance its own influence over potential rivals that can also seek to engage with such a unit. The engagement without recognition approach is relatively new, therefore there are quite a lot of cases left unanalyzed by applying this model. One of such cases is Iraqi Kurdistan and two of its neighbors’ – Turkey and Iran’s – interaction with this de facto state. This thesis focuses on the two abovementioned states’ actions towards Iraqi Kurdistan, as Turkey and Iran, having internal and external interests, prefer to deepen their relations with Erbil. However, the two face an unexpected paradox and unintended consequences – Turkey and Iran, by making an effort to pursue an engagement without recognition policy with Iraqi Kurdistan, have caused an adverse impact and contributed to strengthening the Kurdish statehood. Political-diplomatic, economic and military elements used by Turkish and Iranian foreign policy decision makers as the tools to access Iraqi Kurdistan, its politicians and market had a side effect which has reflected as Iraqi Kurdistan’s reduced international isolation, growing economy and military victory over Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. These factors gave Iraqi Kurdistan more confidence regarding the future independent state. Enhanced ambitions were first highlighted last year when an independence referendum had been held. |
