Ivanov S.M. The Role of Iraqi Kurdistan in Regional Geopolitics

Abstract: This article focuses on the studying of the place and role of Iraqi Kurdistan in world and regional politics. Iraqi Kurdistan is a unique model of a just solution to the problems of Kurdish people within a given country, a flexible combination of the two main principles of international Law: the right of nations to self-determination and the territorial integrity of countries. A fairly streamlined democratic administration was established in the Kurdish region, along with the major civil society establishments, independent media, dozens of political parties and hundreds of public organizations. However, the ISIS Islamists are determined to dismantle the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq, transforming it into a Sunnite dictatorship. The methodology of this study is based on a systemic, structural-functional and comparativepolitical approaches, methods of induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis and observation. In this situation, it is important for Russia to keep, if not expand its presence in Iraqi Kurdistan. The prospects of further cooperation of Russia with Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey depend on the fullness of Russian-Kurdish relations. Erbil has long become an independent player in the regional and international politics, and this factor needs to be considered in Russian foreign policy and economy. It seems that, during the period of Russian cautiousness towards Iraqi Kurdistan and building relations with Erbil with an eye on Baghdad is closing to an end. The breaking point was the meeting of Russian President V. V. Putin with the Kurdish president Basud Barzani in February 2013, and the creation of an Islamic khalifat in Syria and Iraq.

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