Perceptions and Decisions: A Field-Study on Foreign-Policy in Iraqi Kurdistan

Sammanfattning: Kurdistan region of Iraq (KR-I) has continually evolved in a region amidst turmoil. Currently, the region is exerting internal sovereignty and administers its own foreign-policy. Through the conduct of field-based interviews in KR-I, this study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the regions relationship with its parent state Iraq, from a perspective of foreign-policy decision-making, specifically focused upon the perceptions in strategic dimensions of Kurdish policy-makers. In addition, a theoretical framework is developed to generate a deeper understanding regarding the connection between perceptual images and the decision-making process through an integration of Image theory and Poliheuristic theory. Findings indicate that Kurdish policy-makers perceive their parent state as inherently hostile, equipped with ill-willed intentions, a monolithic decisional structure and great cultural discrepancies. The theoretical framework contributes a theoretically guided explanation utilized through process-tracing which indicate an interaction between images and the decision-making process to some extent, but not enough evidence for claims of causality. The study suggests further research regarding relationships of causality between images and the decisionmaking process.