Understanding Iran’s Approach to Violent Non-state Actors: The ISIS and YPG Cases

Oktav, Özden Zeynep

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-67528-2_10

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…A much more significant development occurred after the Syrian army evacuated most Kurdish areas in 2012. At this time, the Democratic Union Party ( Partiya Yekitiya Demokrat , PYD) and its military wing, the People’s Protection Units ( Yekîneyên Parastina Gel , YPG) took control of several parts of northern and northeastern Syria in July of that year (Lowe, 2014; Romano & Gurses, 2014; Kaya & Whiting, 2017; Oktav, Parlar Dal & Kursun, 2018).…”

Section: Turkish Kurds’ Transnational Linkagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A micro-level analysis of the contagion effect: Evidence from the Kurdish conflict

Sarıgil

2020

Journal of Peace Research

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The unit of analysis in almost all large-N studies on conflict contagion and diffusion is collective actors, such as states and ethnic groups or movements. Thus, contagion dynamics and processes at the individual level have been neglected. Using original data derived from a public opinion survey, this study examines the micro-level dynamics of contagion in the context of Turkey’s Kurdish conflict. The study suggests that transnational ethnic ties, and in particular, cross-border familial bonds and interactions, facilitate conflict contagion through several strategic and ideational mechanisms. First, transborder familial ties and interactions amplify the demonstration effect of ethnic-kin achievements in contiguous conflict countries. Second, cross-border familial bonds facilitate collaboration between cross-border co-ethnics. Finally, such ties to conflict zones with ethnic kin groups empower pan-ethnic identities. The empirical findings show that Kurds living in Turkey who have close relatives in nearby countries hosting conflicting ethnic-kin groups (i.e. Syria, Iraq, and Iran) have stronger ethnonationalist orientations and claims against the center. However, having close relatives elsewhere (e.g. Europe) does not generate the same impact. The Kurdish case evidences that contagion processes and dynamics might vary substantially across the members of a particular ethnic group. Hence, it is necessary to broaden the conventional focus on collective actors in conflict contagion research and pay greater attention to micro-level variables and factors.

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Section: Turkish Kurds’ Transnational Linkagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A micro-level analysis of the contagion effect: Evidence from the Kurdish conflict

Sarıgil

2020

Journal of Peace Research

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“…On the one hand, Russia and Iran have been the die-hard supporters of the Assad regime, on the other hand, Turkey, Western powers (e.g., the US and the EU), and several Gulf monarchies (e.g., Saudi Arabia and Qatar) have backed opposition forces to varying degrees (Hinnebusch and Saouli, 2019). By taking sides and providing money, armament, and fighters to the Syrian crisis, those foreign powers' involvement provided fertile ground for "violent non-state actors" (Oktav et al, 2018) of extremist jihadist groups (e.g., the Islamic State-ISIL) and the US supported Kurdish groups (e.g., PYD and YPG) to materialize their aspirations to become autonomous. Concerned about the conflict spillover effects of those violent non-state actors' insurgencies to Turkish territory (Dal, 2016), the AK Party led the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) to launch Operation Euphrates Shield against the YPG/PYD and ISIL forces in northern Syria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediated public diplomacy and peace journalism: International public news agencies on the Syrian crisis

Ersoy

İşeri

2023

International Communication Gazette

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As the liberal international order has been falling, the heteropolar order coupled with politics of uncertainty has been rising. In this context, illiberal regimes of status-seeking powers have realized the value of public diplomacy to promulgate their versions of the “reality.” Those illiberal regimes’ adoption of public diplomacy tools (incl. international public news agencies) has generated discussions on theoretical and practical approaches to the field at the intersection of political science/international relations, media, and communication studies. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to contribute to the emerging literature on public diplomacy of non-Western illiberal democracies. With the assumption that those regimes' illiberal democratic characteristics will be reflected in their public agencies' coverage styles (e.g., monologic, conflictive, and unbalanced), the article raises the following question: How do illiberal democracies utilize international public agencies as public diplomacy channels? To answer this question, it compares framing strategies (peace/war journalism) of the Russian TASS and the Turkish Anatolian Agency public agencies during the Syrian crisis. The findings reveal that those illiberal regimes’ public agencies have reported the crisis as a state-centric monolog in conflict with the West by distrupting the global public good (i.e., peace).

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A Comparative Analysis of the Soft Power of Iran and US in Post-Saddam Iraq

Omidi,

Emami

2024

Soft Power and Diplomatic Strategies in Asia and the Middle East

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Soft power as one manifestation of power allows countries to gain influence through means such as political values, cultural diplomacy, and foreign policy attitudes. Iraq has become a venue for influential players such as Iran and the US to exert their soft power after 2003. Iran employs shared religious ties with the Shiite population in Iraq, promotes its independent anti-imperialist foreign policy as a value, highlights the shared geography and historical memories between the two countries, and applies other similar elements to enhance its soft power. On the other hand, the United States employs cultural attractions and promotes values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. The United States presents itself as an idealistic democratic archetype and encourages Iraq to emulate its model in the post-Saddam era. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comparison of soft power status of Iran and the US in the post-Saddam Iraq.

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Understanding Iran’s Approach to Violent Non-state Actors: The ISIS and YPG Cases

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

A micro-level analysis of the contagion effect: Evidence from the Kurdish conflict

A micro-level analysis of the contagion effect: Evidence from the Kurdish conflict

Mediated public diplomacy and peace journalism: International public news agencies on the Syrian crisis

A Comparative Analysis of the Soft Power of Iran and US in Post-Saddam Iraq

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