Kurdish Policy Analysis

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj /  Kurdish Policy Analysis As the Kurdistan Regional Government showcases unprecedented governance reforms and economic achievements, renewed security threats, political uncertainty, and Baghdad disputes reveal that Iraqi Kurdistan is entering one of its most consequential geopolitical transitions since the defeat of ISIS.  The Kurdistan Region enters a defining period as governance reforms, security threats, Baghdad disputes, and regional diplomacy reshape the KRG's future. Part I: A government at a crossroads For much of the past two decades, discussions surrounding the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have revolved around crises. Whether confronting the financial fallout of disputes with Baghdad, the existential threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS), the collapse of global oil prices, or persistent regional tensions, the Kurdistan Region has often been portrayed as a political entity reacting to external shocks rather than shaping its ow...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Kurdish Policy Analysis Prime Minister Ali Falah Al-Zaidi faces the defining challenge of modern Iraq: either establish the state's monopoly over foreign policy and security or risk allowing Iraq to become the battlefield of someone else's war. Iraq's balancing act between Iran and the United States is becoming unsustainable. Prime Minister Al-Zaidi faces a defining strategic choice. Iraq Can No Longer Play Both Sides: The Time for Strategic Ambiguity Is Over For nearly two decades, successive Iraqi governments have attempted the impossible. They have sought to maintain close strategic relations with the United States while simultaneously accommodating Iran's expanding political and military influence. For years, this balancing act appeared manageable. Baghdad welcomed American investment, intelligence, military training, and diplomatic support while tolerating powerful armed factions aligned with Tehran. The policy was often described as ...

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis   A mobile hospital in Karbala during Arbaeen may appear to be a humanitarian initiative, but it also illustrates how the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is employing soft power to strengthen relationships with Iraq's Shiite political and social networks. The PUK's humanitarian outreach during Arbaeen highlights its growing use of soft power to strengthen ties with Iraqi political actors, contrasting with the KDP's more difficult relationship with Baghdad. For years, political competition between the Kurdistan Region's two dominant parties—the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)—has largely been viewed through the lens of their rivalry inside Kurdistan. Increasingly, however, an equally important contest is unfolding beyond the region's borders: the struggle to cultivate influence within Iraq itself. A recent humanitarian initiative offers an illustration of this broader trend....