Iraq’s Relations with Syria before and during the Syrian Uprising in Terms of Domestic Decision-Making Environment

Year 2023, , 221 - 238, 26.12.2023

Fatih Oğuzhan İpek

https://doi.org/10.47932/ortetut.1384953

Abstract

This paper examines Iraq’s foreign policy toward Syria before and during the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. It presents an overview of the restoration of relations between the two countries that have been hostile since their formation, with a view to tracing the factors behind the rapprochement during the Syrian uprising. Drawing from some concepts of the neoclassical realist perspective, such as the domestic decision-making environment, the paper seeks under which international and domestic factors the Iraqi leadership inhabits with respect to restoring and resuming relations with the Syrian regime. The paper argues that the Iraqi leadership is obliged to support the Syrian regime owing to its strategic interests in receiving support from the Iraqi parliament.

Keywords

Iraq, Syrian Civil War, Iran, Iraqi leadership, Foreign Policy Decision-Making

Ülkeiçi Karar Verme Ortamı Çerçevesinde Suriye İç Savaşı Öncesi ve Sırası Irak'ın Suriye ile İlişkileri

Abstract

Bu çalışma, 2011 yılında başlayan Suriye İç Savaşı öncesi ve sırasında Irak’ın Suriye’ye yönelik izlediği politikasını incelemektedir. Irak’ın Suriye ile yakınlaşmasının ardındaki faktörlerin izini sürmek amacıyla, iki ülke arasındaki, kuruluşundan bu yana düşmanca olan ilişkilerin restorasyonuna genel bir bakış sunmaktadır. Neoklasik realist yaklaşımının ülke içi karar alma ortamı gibi bazı kavramlarından yola çıkan makale, Irak liderliğinin Suriye rejimiyle ilişkilerini yeniden kurma ve sürdürme konusunda hangi uluslararası ve yerel faktörler altında hareket ettiğini araştırmaktadır. Çalışma, Irak liderlerinin iktidarlarını devam ettirmek için Irak parlamentosundan destek alma konusundaki stratejik çıkarları nedeniyle Suriye rejimini desteklemek zorunda olduğunu ileri sürüyor.

Keywords

Irak, Suriye İç Savaşı, İran, Irak Liderliği, Dış Politika Karar Verme

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