Kirkuk Conflict: The Underlying Energy Dimension
Publisher: Peace and Conflict Monitor
Author(s): Hriday Sarma
Date: 2014
Topics: Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Extractive Resources
This paper offers a different perspective on the conflict within Kirkuk Governorate vis-à-vis the commonly held view of it being principally an ethno-national conflict based on territorial claims of Kurdish nationalism. The foundation of this analysis is the recognition that the local politics of the energy rich Kirkuk region are increasingly connected with the national and regional energy geopolitics, which are responsible for many of the defining characteristics of the conflict today. After reviewing the positions and interests of various stakeholders, this paper lays out certain recommendations that can be considered by relevant parties in resolving the conflict.