Kurds in the Crossfire: Trump's Troop Withdrawal, Statelessness and Political Interests

Sammanfattning: This research adopts a theoretical framework grounded in political realism, serving as the guiding principle that shapes the analysis and drives the theory-driven exploration of President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. forces from Rojava. The study explores how realism influenced the decision, emphasizing the prioritization of national interests over aiding stateless groups like the Kurds. Focusing on the aftermath of the withdrawal, this thesis will also be highlighting vulnerabilities stemming from the absence of international solidarity, specifically for a stateteless group such as the Kurds, through a realist perspective. Through an empirical analysis, this research illuminates the complex interplay between states with a realist framework and its implications on the Kurdish struggle. Through the lens of realism, the analysis highlights the consistent prioritization of self-interests by political actors. The framework has three key-components: national/self interests, security, and international anarchy which helps explain the decision-making process behind actions such as the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Rojava. The results reveal that political actors, specifically Donald Trump, will act according to self-interest to ensure safety and security, often prioritizing national interests over other considerations.