Political crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan, 2013-2017

Mushegh Ghahriyan

Mushegh Ghahriyan The Institute of Oriental Studies NAS RA

Keywords: Iraqi Kurdistan, Barzani, oil, crisis, presidency

Abstract

Iraqi Kurdistan faces harsh political and economic problems because of the unstable situtation in the Middle East and within the autonomy. The aim of the paper is the study of the political crisis in Iraqi Kurdistan and the political transformations the Kurdish region undergoes in recent years. It explores the developments in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2013-2014 as well as regional situation and its influence on the Kurdish autonomy. The article concludes that the crisis of legitimacy and undiversified economy are major problems for the Kurdistan Region and undermine its stability. Both were not solved by the end of 2017. Another significant point is the end of the era of long-time charismatic leaders in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

Author Biography

Mushegh Ghahriyan, The Institute of Oriental Studies NAS RA

Mushegh Ghahriyan, PhD

Research Fellow at the Department of International Relations at the Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA. Main fields of his research include the Kurdish issue in Iraq and in other Middle East countries.