Iran in Iraq: the limits of 바카라 사이트˜smart power바카라 사이트™ amidst public protest
This work is part of the Conflict Research Programme
Abstract
Post 2003, Iran has shown greater aptitude than Western states for penetrating Iraqi politics and society, producing 바카라 사이트˜smart power바카라 사이트™ by manipulating the combination of identity politics, patronage networks, and coercion which have become prevalent in both. But Iranian interference has been a major source of grievance for Iraqis since the outbreak of the October 2019 popular protests, undermining the Islamic Republic바카라 사이트™s non-coercive influence. This paper situates Iran바카라 사이트™s influence-gaining strategies in Iraq within its broader regional foreign policy objectives. Focusing on heritage, religious authority, charitable activities and media broadcasting, the paper draws on Arabic and Farsi language social and traditional media sources to argue that while the Islamic Republic has invested in potential sources of 바카라 사이트˜soft power바카라 사이트™ to broadly appeal to Iraqis, it has prioritised core support groups whose activities are increasingly unpalatable to the public. The paper reflects on how international actors should respond to current expressions of anti-Iran sentiment in Iraq.
This work is part of the Conflict Research Programme managed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Citation
Watkins, Jessica (2020) Iran in Iraq: the limits of 바카라 사이트˜smart power바카라 사이트™ amidst public protest. LSE Middle East Centre Paper Series (37). LSE Middle East Centre, London, UK.