Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks

Post 2005, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has made continuous endeavors for autonomy, progress, and democratization. However, tribal networks, particularly those tied to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), continue to shape its political dynamics. This st...

وصف كامل

محفوظ في:
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
المؤلف الرئيسي: Bakir, Shatoo (author)
التنسيق: masterThesis
منشور في: 2025
الوصول للمادة أونلاين:http://hdl.handle.net/10725/17072
https://doi.org/10.26756/th.2023.815
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/thesis.php
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author Bakir, Shatoo
author_facet Bakir, Shatoo
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bakir, Shatoo
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-07-04T13:05:11Z
2025-07-04T13:05:11Z
2025
2025-04-25
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10725/17072
https://doi.org/10.26756/th.2023.815
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/thesis.php
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Lebanese American University
dc.rights.*.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Thesis
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis
description Post 2005, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has made continuous endeavors for autonomy, progress, and democratization. However, tribal networks, particularly those tied to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), continue to shape its political dynamics. This study examines the central research question: To what extent do tribal networks hinder or facilitate democratization in the KRI? Employing a mixed-methods approach—including historical analysis, case studies, electoral data review, and document analysis of government records, laws, and party platforms—the paper investigates how tribal loyalties influence elections, political appointments, resource allocation, and economic development. Key findings reveal that the existing structural tribalism fosters a hybrid governance system, blending neopatrimonialism with formal institutions, which undermines democratic consolidation by perpetuating family rule, weak institutions, and clientelism. The study argues that a consensus democracy model, rather than majoritarian systems, could reconcile tribal structures with federal governance, enhancing stability in the KRI and its relations with Iraq and neighboring states. This research contributes to international relations by challenging common democratization frameworks, advocating for hybrid political orders in tribal societies, highlighting the interplay of identity politics and resource dependency in fragile states, and proposing consensus democracy as a viable pathway for regions with entrenched tribal networks.
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spelling Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal NetworksBakir, ShatooPost 2005, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has made continuous endeavors for autonomy, progress, and democratization. However, tribal networks, particularly those tied to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), continue to shape its political dynamics. This study examines the central research question: To what extent do tribal networks hinder or facilitate democratization in the KRI? Employing a mixed-methods approach—including historical analysis, case studies, electoral data review, and document analysis of government records, laws, and party platforms—the paper investigates how tribal loyalties influence elections, political appointments, resource allocation, and economic development. Key findings reveal that the existing structural tribalism fosters a hybrid governance system, blending neopatrimonialism with formal institutions, which undermines democratic consolidation by perpetuating family rule, weak institutions, and clientelism. The study argues that a consensus democracy model, rather than majoritarian systems, could reconcile tribal structures with federal governance, enhancing stability in the KRI and its relations with Iraq and neighboring states. This research contributes to international relations by challenging common democratization frameworks, advocating for hybrid political orders in tribal societies, highlighting the interplay of identity politics and resource dependency in fragile states, and proposing consensus democracy as a viable pathway for regions with entrenched tribal networks.Lebanese American University2025-07-04T13:05:11Z2025-07-04T13:05:11Z20252025-04-25Thesisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesishttp://hdl.handle.net/10725/17072https://doi.org/10.26756/th.2023.815http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/thesis.phpeninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:laur.lau.edu.lb:10725/170722025-07-04T13:05:11Z
spellingShingle Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
Bakir, Shatoo
status_str publishedVersion
title Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
title_full Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
title_fullStr Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
title_full_unstemmed Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
title_short Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
title_sort Neopatrimonialism and Democratization Politics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Role of Tribal Networks
url http://hdl.handle.net/10725/17072
https://doi.org/10.26756/th.2023.815
http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/research/laur/terms-of-use/thesis.php