Between State and Non-State: Politics and Society in Kurdistan-Iraq and Palestine

This edited volume compares the internal dimension, politics and society in Kurdistan-Iraq and Palestine. In particular, it focuses on internal processes in Kurdistan-Iraq and Palestine (Palestinian Territory of the West Bank and Gaza Strip) in their specific shaping, development and transformation. The contributing authors analyze the transformation processes of the internal power structures, the economic basics, and the civil societies and provide an overview of the current political, economic and societal situation and challenges in both regions. The book presents the similarities and differences between both de facto states with regard to a set of guidelines: legitimacy, power relations, transformation of politics and society. It provides empirical explanations and contributes to a better understanding of both de facto states. Glistan Grbey is Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Freie Universitt Berlin, Germany. Sabine Hofmann is Researcher and Lecturer at the Center for North Africa and Middle Eastern Politics, Freie Universitt Berlin, Germany, and the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Marburg, Germany. Ferhad Ibrahim Seyder is Professor of Political Science at the Center for Kurdish Studies, University of Erfurt, Germany. Introduction Conceptualizing De Facto Statehood of Kurdistan-Iraq and Palestine Glistan Grbey/Sabine Hofmann/Ferhad Ibrahim Seyder Part I Historical Background and Turning Points 1. The Iraqi Kurds: Historical backgrounds of a non-state nation Ferhad Ibrahim Seyder 2. Historical Background of the State-Building Process in Palestine As'ad Ghanem Part II Political System and Internal Power Structure 3. The Evolution of the Political System of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Gareth Stansfield 4. The (Quasi) Political System of Palestine Ghada AlMadbouh Part III Economic Fundamentals and Challenges 5. The Economic System(s) of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq Sardar Aziz 6. What is the "Palestinian Economy"? Raja Khalidi Part IV Civil Society and "State" 7. The Reality of Civil Society in Kurdistan Region Murad Hakeem 8. Civil Society in Palestine Samir Awad Part V Foreign Relations: Examples 9. The United States and the Kurds of Iraq: Strange Allies David Romano/Hussein Rikar Kh. Hussein/Stephen Rowe 10. Palestinian Diplomacy: Past and Present Mkhaimar Abusada Conclusions Glistan Grbey/Sabine Hofmann/Ferhad Ibrahim Seyder 11. Understanding Kurdistan-Iraq and Palestine: Comparative Features, Similarities and Differences 12. Reflections of Statehood in the Middle East Chronology Kurdistan-Iraq Mzehher Selcuk Palestine Silvia Nicola Fact Sheets Kurdistan Palestine List of Contributors