Confilictual intergovernmental relations in Iraq

Abstract EN

Although the 2005 Constitution of Iraq provides for a federal structure and a procedure for governorates to combine into regional governments, Kurdistan remains the only federal region in Iraq today.

This paper focuses on the dynamics of intergovernmental relations between the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

It explains the distribution of powers between federal government and constituent units in Iraq, sheds light on the political system of Kurdistan, and analyzes the major sources of conflict between GOI and KRG.

Thereafter, formal and informal channels of intergovernmental relations are outlined.

The conclusion explores the possibilities of the Arab–Kurdish conflict in Iraq.