Geopolitical Logic in the Iraqi Foreign Policy: Causes and Consequences

Iraqi neighboring countries, within the recent decades, have consistently been exposed to this country’s expansionist policies and aggrandizement. This characteristic, in spite of several changes in the Iraqi regime during the past 80 years, has ostensibly persisted as a constant principle in the country’s foreign policy behavior. Examining this fact which resulted in the rise of serious border disputes and even the start of two major wars in the region, the author addresses the hypothesis that geopolitical factors and Iraq’s geographical location represent the most important factors accounting for the expansionism in the country’s foreign policy behavior and other variables have just played a part in the strengthening, weakening and the quality of influencing such behavior. To verify this hypothesis, the record of Iraq’s relations with its neighboring countries are examined, and objective and psychological requirements in the Iraqi geographical location are discussed, presenting different viewpoints. Finally, the author offers certain points on the consequences and repercussions of geopolitical logic in the Iraqi foreign policy.