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A Study of the Implementation of the Constitution and the Quality of Governance in Kurdistan Salih Fatah A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Liverpool John Moores University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 2016 i Declaration/Statements Declaration This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Salih Fatah Signed: Date: 06/ 06 /2016 Statements The thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is included. I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Salih Fatah Signed: Date: 06/ 06 /2016 ii iii Abstract As the first study focusing on the implementation of the constitutions and quality of government (QoG) in Kurdistan from a practical point of view, this thesis examines the question why the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) fails to deliver the constitutions in a way that strengthens its democracy and produces a good QoG. From analyses of the data gleaned from 41 semi-structured interviews the thesis identifies the main factors that affect the implementation of the constitutions and QoG with particular reference to the 2005 Iraqi constitution and the Kurdistan draft constitution of 2009. The study also outlines the reform process in the Kurdistan Region and explains how a system of political checks and balances in a democratic society can improve QoG and democracy. This research considers the main obstacle to the establishment of a good and democratic government in the region to be political influence on all state institutions, including the executive, parliament, the judiciary, military forces, police and security services, and use of these institutions for political and personal benefits. Other obstacles identified are a reliance on oil products, a culture of corruption, poor administration, a low-quality legal system, Kurdish disputes with the central Iraqi government, the absence of a clear, enforceable regional constitution, the lack of experience with democracy and, more importantly, the absence of political will for reform by the ruling parties. In this light, the study recommends strengthening the state institutions, reducing political influence over them and establishing a process of political checks and balances – as exists in democratic states – as extremely important to improving QoG. However, it also argues that these aims will not be achieved without a genuine political will for reform. Thus, this thesis stands as the first detailed research in this field that qualitatively investigates the effect of the implementation of democratic constitutions in a region that has gone through conflict and violence; attempts to set out the factors that form obstacles to such implementation; and puts forward recommendations for the improvement of QoG in the light of the constitutions. This study therefore, can help the government and politicians to take action in terms of reforms to improve QoG in the region and develop iv the democratic process. This research will also contribute to future study on a similar theme. v Dedicated to my affectionate mother and my beloved wife vi vii Acknowledgements I have always been conscious of my debt to many people in writing this piece of work. There are a number of people I need to thank for their help in the production of this thesis, both in the UK and in Kurdistan. First, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all those who played important roles in producing this work. In particular, I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr. Gary Wilson and Dr. Nirmala Pillay, for their insightful comments and constructive suggestions throughout my research. Their friendship and support went beyond their duties as my supervisors. This thesis would not have been possible without their constant encouragement and support. I would like to extend special thanks to my previous supervisors, professors Paul Joyce and Alan Doig, for their useful academic comments and suggestions in several sessions and workshops during the first two years of my study. I would like to thank those who helped and guided me to valuable material about governance, corruption and constitutions and all those who cooperated with me during my fieldwork in Kurdistan. In particular, I thank all the interviewees who participated in my research, the members of parliament,1 politicians, judges, academics and officials in Kurdistan. Many thanks for their time and efforts. I am deeply thankful to my wife for her constant support, understanding and patience, and also for her good humour in the face of foregone weekends and holidays due to my study throughout the years. 1 In this thesis, “MP” is used as an abbreviation for members of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament as well as of other parliaments, e.g. the UK House of Commons. viii Finally, I am very grateful to my mother for her encouragement, love and support from the moment I started my studies to the completion of this research, and her constructive criticism throughout my life. ix x Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. viii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ xv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Background on Kurdistan ....................................................................................................................... 1 Political background of Kurdistan 4 Political domination of freedoms (freedom of expression and association) 14 Funding of political parties 27 Absence of a strong political opposition 28 Nature of Inquiry ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Motivation for the Study ........................................................................................................................ 41 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 43 Research Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 43 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................... 49 Research Design and Methodology .......................................................................................... 49 Qualitative vs Quantitative Methods: Why This Study Uses the Former ........................................... 49 Access to Interviewees and Sampling Method ......................................................................................... 52 Limitations of Samples ............................................................................................................................. 58 Triangulation of Methods and Perspectives ........................................................................................ 60 Primary sources 61 Secondary sources 61 Types of interview 62 Interview questions and procedure 64 Ethical considerations and challenges ................................................................................................ 66 Validity and Reliability of the Research ................................................................................................ 69 Research Problems and Limitations ..................................................................................................... 70 Conceptual Framework of the Research .............................................................................................. 72 Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................................... 74 Summary of Emerging Themes ................................................................................................ 74 Elements That Support the Emerging Themes ......................................................................................... 74 Coding of Data.......................................................................................................................................... 74 Process of Coding and Themes ............................................................................................................... 76 Key Findings from the Interviews.............................................................................................................. 76 Triangulation ............................................................................................................................................. 78 Research Framework ..............................................................................................................................

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