This Bachelor dissertation will focus on America’s policy regarding the Iraqi Kurds and their quest for autonomy between 1958 and 1975, in the context of Washington’s seventeen year-long Cold War...Show moreThis Bachelor dissertation will focus on America’s policy regarding the Iraqi Kurds and their quest for autonomy between 1958 and 1975, in the context of Washington’s seventeen year-long Cold War competition during these years with the Soviet Union for influence in Iraq. Was foreign policy of the United States towards the Iraqi Kurds contradictory or consistent between 1958 and 1975? What factors determined Washington’s policy towards the Iraqi Kurds between 1958 and 1975? And what factors caused it to change? These are the main research questions which should provide sufficient insight in Washington’s motives and goals which determined its policy on the Iraqi Kurds, and should explain how that policy finally took shape. First of all, Washington’s main policy interests in relation to the Iraqi Kurds during General Qasim’s regime from 1958 till 1963 will be examined. Second, the main U.S. policy interests regarding the Iraqi Kurds during the Ba’athist regime of 1963 and during the presidencies of the brothers Arif will be investigated. And finally, these same U.S. policy interests will be examined during the Ba’athist regime of President al-Bakr from July 1968, until the 1975 Algiers Agreement between Iran and Iraq. During these three separate periods, this dissertation will also focus on how these U.S. interests were eventually pursued.Show less
The US-Canadian relationship is often characterized as a 10:1 ratio, with Canada as the clearly minor partner. In issues concerning the Arctic, this looks quite different as these issues are of...Show moreThe US-Canadian relationship is often characterized as a 10:1 ratio, with Canada as the clearly minor partner. In issues concerning the Arctic, this looks quite different as these issues are of very high relevance, even identity-defining to Canada. The US, on the other hand, needs Canadian cooperation in issues like energy and continental security, where the Arctic plays an important role. This thesis seeks to analyze this relationship on the issues of territorial sovereignty, security, energy and environment and regional governance. For these topics, the importance of the end of the Cold War is assessed. The emerging image is one of deep, if unequal mutual interdependence, where neither country has clear superior force over the other.Show less
Edward Heath’s political career and ideologies were dominated from an early age on by Europe and later a possible British entry into the European Community. When he became Prime Minister he...Show moreEdward Heath’s political career and ideologies were dominated from an early age on by Europe and later a possible British entry into the European Community. When he became Prime Minister he therefore did everything he could to accomplish British entry into the EC and succeeded. 1973 was the year in which Britain formally joined the EC, but it was also the year chosen by Henry Kissinger as the year in which America diverted a lot of their focus to the European continent to reinforce and reinvigorate the old Atlantic Alliance between the two continents. To accomplish this, the Americans started an initiative which they named the Year of Europe. This initiative would fail spectacularly; not only was the preparation that went into it from the American side insufficient, but Europeans were found to be largely uninterested in the initiative as well. Rather, they were busy with British entry into the EC and the redefinition of their new enlarged community. This left Heath in a pivotal position with regards to both intra-European and Atlantic relations, the latter because of the historically good relations between Britain and the Americans they were seen as their first liaison between America and Europe. This thesis will show that because Edward Heath had such a preference for a strong Europe and thus chose to give less attention to the relationship with the Americans the initiative would accomplish much less than it would have if there had been a more traditional Atlanticist Prime-Minister. In doing so this thesis will not only give an overview of the Year of Europe initiative from a British point of view, but also will reflect on the large role a small number of individuals can play in the formation of policy that would affect so many.Show less
