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Showing posts with the label Federalism

From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
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Kurdistan's fourth test: why internal division, not foreign enemies, may decide its future

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The Kurdistan Region has survived Saddam Hussein, defeated ISIS alongside the international coalition, and withstood the largest wave of missile and drone attacks in its modern history during the US-Iran war. Yet today, its greatest threat no longer comes from external enemies but from political fragmentation, institutional paralysis, and an unresolved relationship with Baghdad. The Kurdistan Region survived Saddam Hussein, ISIS, and the US-Iran war. Now its greatest challenge is internal political division and its constitutional dispute with Baghdad. The Kurdistan Region Has Survived Three Existential Crises. The Fourth Could Be the Most Dangerous. History rarely grants nations repeated opportunities to redefine themselves after existential crises. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is one of the few exceptions. Over the past three decades, it has endured three defining tests that might have destroyed less resilient political entities: t...
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Kurdistan's oil dispute explained: why Baghdad and Erbil continue to battle over Iraq's most valuable resource

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis   The constitutional, economic, and geopolitical struggle over who controls Kurdistan's oil has become one of Iraq's longest-running disputes, shaping federal politics, foreign investment, and regional stability. An in-depth analysis of the constitutional, economic, and political dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region over oil, revenues, and federal authority. Kurdistan's Oil Dispute Explained Few issues have shaped post-2003 Iraq as profoundly as the dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over oil and natural gas. What began as a legal disagreement over constitutional interpretation has evolved into a broader struggle involving sovereignty, federalism, revenue-sharing, foreign investment, and the future of Iraq itself. At the center of the dispute lies a deceptively simple question: Who owns Kurdistan's oil? For nearly two decades, Baghdad has argued that Iraq's natural...
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Understanding Iraq's governing system: federalism, power sharing, and the politics of state-building

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    By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj   Iraq's political system is the product of centuries of imperial rule, dictatorship, conflict, and democratic transition. Understanding how power is distributed between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region is essential to explaining the country's persistent political challenges and future prospects. An in-depth analysis of Iraq's governing system, explaining federalism, constitutional institutions, elections, and the evolving relationship between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. Federalism, Power Sharing, and the Politics of State-Building More than two decades after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq remains one of the Middle East's most complex political systems. The country's post-2003 constitutional order established a federal parliamentary democracy intended to balance power among Iraq's diverse ethnic, sectarian, and political communities. Yet constitutional design alone has not resolved the structural challenges of governance. ...
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Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
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Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
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Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
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