Iraq’s Neutrality Policy: Motives and Challenges

Abstract

Perhaps one of the most prominent features of the program produced by the government of Mr. Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, which gained the confidence of the House of Representatives in late October 2022, was its emphasis on pursuing a neutral foreign policy far from regional and international axes. All the governments that preceded this government sided, by one way or another, with one of the axes or great powers which influence the politics of the region.

What are the factors that push today’s Iraq towards a policy of neutrality, despite the intensity of the conflict between the axes in the region? What is the method that guarantees the success of this policy? What are the extent of the challenges which face it at domestic, regional, and global levels?

The basic hypothesis of this research is that the Iraqi neutrality policy is capable of achieving what all previous governments failed to achieve, and that the popular support it will gain will guarantee its success.

By adopting a deductive method based on a number of theories of international politics, such as neorealism, neoliberalism, and the theory of rational choice, this research seeks to prove the validity of the basic hypothesis and other sub-hypotheses by testing them against practical data and adopting those which prove their ability to pass the test.

The research is divided into three main chapters: 1) A conceptual and theoretical framework, 2) Motives for the policy of neutrality, 3) Challenges and obstacles to neutrality. Finally, it culminates in a conclusion summarizing the results reached by the researcher, then a set of recommendations that he believes will contribute to the success of this policy.