Turkish-Iranian Rivalry over Iraq and Syria. (c2015)

Abstract

This thesis examines Turkish-Iranian rivalry over Iraq and Syria after the 2003 United States led invasion and the 2011 popular Arab uprisings. It examines the viability of Realism in explaining sectarian-laden regional disputes. It reviews the geopolitical and historical struggle between the Ottoman and Safavid dynasties in order to reveal contemporary relevance. It entertains different strands of Realist propositions, as they are unraveled in the current power struggle over Syria and Iraq. By focusing on contemporary foreign policy developments, this thesis reveals that the geopolitical considerations of both Turkey and Iran remain the most relevant to theoretical interpretations. This runs in contradiction to the proclaimed sectarian and identity-politics paradigms.