Kurdistan’s Attempted Secession from Iraq: Major Powers’ Responses and Regional Implications

Abstract

Through legal and political means, the Kurdish referendum has created a de facto state in the north of Iraq. This development will have short and long-term impacts on security of the Middle East in general, and Iraq in particular. The paper explores various dimensions of the secession attempt by the Kurdistan Regional Government. It concludes that the independence of Kurds from Iraq is likely to destabilise the Middle East; and encourage other ethnic communities to attempt secession. On the other hand, various extra-regional actors may also try to capitalise on the vacuum to advance their interests in the region.