Key research themes
1. How did the 2003 U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq shape the country’s sectarian security dynamics and influence post-conflict violence patterns?
This theme explores the social and security consequences of the 2003 U.S. invasion in Iraq, focusing on how military strategies such as the 2007 Surge and subsequent policies impacted community-level security perceptions, particularly among Sunni and Shia populations, and how these dynamics contributed to an unstable 'separate peace' and the resurgence of violence. Understanding these localized perceptions of security and violence is critical to analyzing post-invasion sectarian conflict trajectories and the challenges of stabilization.
2. What motivated the United States to launch the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and how do theories of international status and hegemonic performance explain this decision beyond traditional rationales?
This theme addresses the strategic and symbolic motivations behind the U.S. decision to invade Iraq in 2003. Moving beyond traditional explanations centered on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation or democratization goals, it examines theoretical frameworks that emphasize the performative nature of war as a signal for hegemonic authority, reputation, and deterrence at a global scale. By unpacking these motivations, the research sheds light on how war can function as an instrument to reassert global dominance following challenges to status, particularly in the post-9/11 international system.
3. How has the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq indirectly contributed to the rise of ISIS and the reshaping of Middle Eastern geopolitical and security landscapes?
This theme investigates the unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion, particularly focusing on how the toppling of Saddam Hussein and the power vacuum it created facilitated the emergence of radical militant groups like ISIS. It also considers how these developments altered regional power dynamics, especially aiding Iran's regional ascendancy and the rise of sectarian proxy conflicts. These insights help contextualize the complex causal mechanisms linking foreign interventions to emergent violent non-state actors and shifting regional orders.
4. What are the key challenges and pathways toward effective justice and accountability for ISIL/ISIS crimes in post-conflict Iraq?
This theme examines the post-conflict legal and transitional justice challenges Iraq faces following the defeat of ISIL, focusing on the collection, preservation, and use of evidence of mass atrocities, ethical considerations around trials and death penalty application, and the need for legislative reform and survivor-centered approaches. Understanding these issues is vital for designing sustainable justice systems capable of supporting reconciliation and long-term stability.
5. How has environmental degradation and management of water resources in Iraq been influenced by regional climatic, geopolitical, and infrastructural factors since the 2003 invasion?
This theme focuses on the intersection of environmental crisis, hydropolitics, and climate change in Iraq, especially the Kurdistan Region. It explores upstream damming by Turkey and Iran, climatic shifts, and poor resource management affecting key transboundary rivers, exacerbating water scarcity downstream. This theme highlights the socio-political consequences of environmental stress and the urgent need for cross-border cooperation and sustainable policies in a post-invasion Iraq already facing infrastructural and ecological challenges.
6. What are the dynamics and limitations of humanitarian localization in Iraq amid decades of conflict and international aid?
The theme explores the evolving roles of local and international actors in Iraq's humanitarian and development response, analyzing how foreign aid interventions have historically marginalized Iraqi civil society and local NGOs from meaningful leadership and decision-making roles. Despite a robust local presence, the humanitarian system remains internationally dominated, posing challenges for sustainable, locally-led recovery and social cohesion in a post-conflict context.