A Geopolitical Analysis of the Factors Influencing Iraqi-Syrian Relations Over the Past Four Decades

Articles in Press

Document Type : مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

Authors

hidar shuwaili ¹

zarghani seyyed hadi ²

mohsen janparvar ³

¹ دانشجوی دکتری جغرافیای سیاسی

² g

³ ل

https://doi.org/10.22067/pg.2025.95312.1398

Abstract

Despite profound commonalities, Iraqi-Syrian relations have been highly volatile over the past four decades, fluctuating between outright hostility and tactical cooperation, driven by ideological rivalries, pervasive security crises, and resource disputes. This study aims to identify and evaluate the most significant geopolitical components, addressing the question of which factors have exerted the greatest influence on convergence or divergence in the two countries' relations across different time periods.The present research is descriptive-analytical in nature and employs a mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, influential geopolitical factors were identified through library and documentary research and categorized into three dimensions: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural. In the quantitative phase, a researcher-developed questionnaire, available in both Persian and Arabic, was administered to a sample of 107 elites. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were confirmed (Cronbach's alpha = 0.837).The findings indicate that the relationship between the two nations is dichotomous, simultaneously influenced by both convergent and divergent factors. Within the political-security dimension, shared threats such as terrorism have led to tactical convergence; however, the rivalry among foreign powers has hindered its sustainability. The economic dimension, particularly through transportation and energy corridors, holds the greatest potential for sustainable convergence, yet hydro-political disputes represent a significant divergent factor. In the socio-cultural dimension, religious and pilgrimage affiliations have served as a profound integrating factor, whereas ethno-sectarian divisions have provided a basis for divergence.In summary, the threat of terrorism, economic corridors, and religious ties have been the most critical drivers of convergence. Conversely, the role of foreign powers, disputes over water resources, and ethno-sectarian tensions have been the key drivers of divergence.

Keywords

Relations

؛Convergence؛ Iraq؛Syria؛Geopolitics

Subjects

• Political Geography

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