The Impact of Domestic Actors on Iraq's Foreign Policy Formulation, 1950s to 1980s

This book presents a theoretical framework for understanding Iraqi foreign policy from the 1950s through the late Cold War, examining how successive regimes navigated complex international and domestic pressures.

Fatih Oguzhan Ipek analyzes the interplay between systemic factors—including influences from great and regional powers—and unit-level variables such as the Iraqi foreign policy executive (FPE) and societal elites. By exploring four critical dimensions—the threat environment, the FPE's structural autonomy, foreign policy coalitions, and domestic power balances—the book reveals how Iraqi leaders strategically used foreign policy to address both external threats and internal challenges. Case studies demonstrate how the concern for regime survival in the Hashemite monarchy motivated it to accede to the Baghdad Pact, how the Iraq-Egypt rivalry influenced Qasim’s decision to invade Kuwait, how Nasserism and Arab nationalism compelled President Arif to join the 1967 Arab-Israeli War despite limited autonomy, and how Iraqi leaders responded to rising powers based on their structural position and the domestic political landscape. This analysis moves beyond conventional explanations of Iraqi foreign policy, offering a nuanced understanding of how authoritarian regimes balance external pressures and domestic constraints when formulating strategic decisions.