Title: Geopolitics of Iraqi Kurdistan: A Role of External and Internal Actors in Kurdish Issue
Author: Filip Sommer
Place of publication: Prague
Publisher: Charles University.Faculty of Science
Release date: 2021
This thesis represents a comprehensive analysis of the geographical and geopolitical position of the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) as an official political institution of the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI). Firstly, it focuses on the internal issues of this institution and its division between two main Iraqi Kurdish political parties: KDP and PUK. Secondly,it examines the form of the relationships between the KRG and central government in Baghdad. The regional position of the KRG is explained by capturing the relationships among the KRG, the governments of the key regional countries (Turkey, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel) and important Kurdish political parties operating in this area (PKK, PYD,PJAK, HDP, ENKS and KDPI). Thirdly, the global actors (United States of America,Russian Federation and China) and their position towards the Iraqi Kurds, is also included.And finally, this thesis deals with the problematics of the Kurdish referendum of independence in 2017 and the role of ISIS as an “game changing” actor in the regional dynamics. This thesis builds on extensive search of scientific literature (about 70 titles), field and media reports on this topic and region. Additionally, this thesis is enriched by interview with Falah Mustafa Bakir, then KRG’s Head of Foreign Relations.[1]