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Journals / Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 81 Sayı: 3

The KRG-Gulf Relations: Regional-Subsystem Collaboration in an Emerging Micro-Regional Paradiplomacy

IKBY–Körfez İlişkileri: Mikro-Bölgesel Paradiplomasi ve Bölgesel Alt-Sistem İşbirliği

Betul Dogan Akkas(ANKARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SİYASAL BİLGİLER FAKÜLTESİ, ULUSLARARASI İLİŞKİLER BÖLÜMÜ, ULUSLARARASI SİYASET ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-6933-8139
Pages
601–620
Publication Date
2026-09-14
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The emerging role conceptions can bring further role adaptations for the KRG and the Gulf states to strengthen their actorness in the Middle East, despite potential role contestations

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This paper contributes the foreign policy analysis research elaborating the relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (the KRG) and the Gulf states.
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Key Findings & Data:Notably, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar have rising relations with the KRG. .
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Conclusion & Impact:The emerging role conceptions can bring further role adaptations for the KRG and the Gulf states to strengthen their actorness in the Middle East, despite potential role contestations
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Rol teori · Paradiplomasi · Körfez devletleri

Abstract

This paper contributes the foreign policy analysis research elaborating the relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (the KRG) and the Gulf states. Notably, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar have rising relations with the KRG. . A primary question is central to this analysis: How do these actors (the KRG and Gulf states) propose their alliances amid the bigger picture of Middle East affairs? As an answer to this inquiry, the research defines this diplomatic endeavour among a sub-state actor and other regional powers as micro-regional paradiplomacy. These actors are part of an emerging micro-regional paradiplomacy with the KRG’s role conception of regional-subsystem collaborator. The emerging role conceptions can bring further role adaptations for the KRG and the Gulf states to strengthen their actorness in the Middle East, despite potential role contestations

Özet

Makale, Irak Kürdistan Bölgesel Yönetimi (IKBY) ile Körfez devletleri arasındaki ilişkileri inceleyerek, dış politika analizi literatürüne katkı sunmaktadır. Özellikle Suudi Arabistan, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri (BAE) ve Katar’ın IKBY ile gelişen ilişkileri çalışmanın odak noktasıdır. Çalışma temel olarak, IKBY ve Körfez devletlerinin ittifaklarını Orta Doğu siyasetinin bölgesel paradigmalarında nasıl şekillendirdiklerini tartışmaktadır. Araştırma kavramsal olarak bu ilişkileri bir alt-devlet aktörü ile bölgesel güç arasında gelişen mikro-bölgesel paradiplomasi olarak tanımlamaktadır. Makale, rol teorinin sunduğu kavramsal çerçeveden hareketle, Körfez devletleri ile IKBY arasında gelişen ilişkilerin, IKBY’nin benimsediği “bölgesel alt-sistem işbirlikçisi” rol anlayışı etrafında şekillenen bir mikrobölgesel paradiplomasi örneği oluşturduğunu ilerisürmektedir. Bu çerçevede ortaya çıkan rol anlayışları, zaman zaman rol çatışmalarına yol açma potansiyeli taşısa da, IKBY ve Körfez devletlerinin Orta Doğu’daki aktörlük kapasitelerini güçlendirmelerine ve bölgesel siyasette daha görünür roller üstlenmelerine imkân sağlayabilecek yeni rol uyarlamalarını teşvik etmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Akkas, B. D. (2026). The KRG-Gulf Relations: Regional-Subsystem Collaboration in an Emerging Micro-Regional Paradiplomacy. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, Cilt: 81 Sayı: 3, 601–620. https://doi.org/10.33630/ausbf.1974891

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