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TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT (2003-2013) A GLOBALIST ANALYSIS by Mustafa Demir A Thesis Submitted in accordence with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Politics and International Relations July 2015 2 3 ABSTRACT Despite the shadows cast by their history, Turkey has developed relations with the Kurdish government to the level of a strategic partnership within the last decade, following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This thesis contextualizes this unexpected rapprochement from a globalist perspective. To do so, the research first identifies and analyses important developments taking place during 2003- 2013, then it seeks the motives that led to the emergence of this strategic partnership between these two regional actors, first at regional, then at global level. In conclusion, it argues that it was mainly the power shift in global political system that led Turkey to abandon its traditional policy towards the Kurdish Region of Iraq. 4 Table of Contents List of Figures...………………………………………………………………6 Acknowladgment .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................... 11 Introduction: ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... 12 My Story .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Why A Globalist Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Contribution of the Research ................................................................................................................................. 34 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Overview of the Chapters ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Design .............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Methodology: Data Collection ............................................................................................................................... 38 PART I) CASTING SHADOW OF HISTORY: ......................................................... 43 CHAPTER 2: State’s Perception of Kurds And Kurdistan ................................................ 43 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 43 Theoretical Framework: Copenhagen School’s Securitisation Theory .............................................. 44 KURDS AND KURDISTAN ....................................................................................................................................... 51 Construction of Kurds and Kurdistan as Threat ........................................................................................... 56 Kurdish Rebellions ...................................................................................................................................................... 65 A Modern Kurdish Rebellion; the PKK ............................................................................................................... 76 IRAQI KURDS AND ‘KURDISTAN’ ........................................................................................................................ 79 Enemy Stories ............................................................................................................................................................... 89 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................................ 98 PART II) THE EXTENT OF TURKEY’S CHANGING POLICY TOWARDS THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ; Picturing The Recent Times ............................ 101 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 101 Structure of Part II ................................................................................................................................................... 102 CHAPTER 3. Invasion of Iraq and Turkish Perception of Iraqi Kurds; 2003-2008 ............ 105 In the wake of the Invasion .................................................................................................................................. 105 Kurds’ prior Concern: If Saddam stays ............................................................................................................ 105 Second concern of the Kurds: Turkey’s role in the invasion .................................................................. 108 Invasion of Iraq; Recurring Turkish concerns ............................................................................................. 110 Initiative of Iraq’s Neighbours ............................................................................................................................ 110 Post-Invasion era, the Kurds and Turkey ...................................................................................................... 123 2005: Year Of Elections; Increasing Visibility of Kurds In Iraqi Politics and Turkish Reaction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 130 5 2007: Revitalising partnership; Turkey and the US .................................................................................. 138 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................... 139 CHAPTER 4. SECURING A KURDISTAN IN IRAQ; An Analysis of Diplomatic Exchanges Between Turkish and Kurdish officials 2007-13 ............................................. 141 Changing Contexts and their influence on Turkish Foreign Policy .................................................... 141 Desecuritisation; A Framework to Analyse Turkey- KRG Relations: ................................................ 147 A) Economy and Politics hand-in-hand ...................................................................................................... 153 1) May 2008, first high-level official meeting .............................................................................................. 154 2) October 2008 First High-level visit to Barzani ....................................................................................... 158 3) March 2009, President Abdullah Gül Visits Iraq ................................................................................... 160 4) October 2009, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu’s Visit to Erbil ............................................................... 164 5) March 2011 –The Turkish Prime Minister in the KRG ........................................................................ 170 6) April 14, 2011 -First flight of Turkish Airlines to Kurdistan ............................................................ 176 B) Western Energy Security in the aftermath of US withdrawal from Iraq .................................... 178 2009 Kurdish Opening ............................................................................................................................................ 181 2013 Nawroz .............................................................................................................................................................. 183 7) 20-21 May 2012, International Conference on Oil and Gas in Erbil ............................................. 184 8) 30 September 2012, Barzani Attends AKP’s Congress ........................................................................ 185 9) The 2013 Pipeline Agreement between Turkey and the KRG .......................................................... 187 10) June 2013: An ‘Awkward’ Demonstration in Erbil ............................................................................