The role of tribal groups in the diplomatic history of bilateral relations between Iraq and Iran

Gorris, Elynn [UCL]

Middle Eastern diplomatic relations, and more particularly the role of Iran in current international developments, has been for the last months a highly relevant topic for the geopolitical stability in the region. Nowadays Iranian diplomats pursue the art of political dialoguing to an unprecedented level in order to avoid an open conflict or further isolation. However, the ethnic and cultural identity of Iran within the larger Semitic Middle East is not only a major ground for conflict today, but finds its roots in antiquity. In order to get a deeper understanding of bilateral relations between Iraq and Iran, one has to have a profound knowledge of the ethnic and structural composition of the people living along the Iran-Iraq limes. This paper gives therefore a simplified overview on the historical background of Iran’s regional politics. So I decided to address today the topic of the tribal communities along the Iran-Iraq border and their influence on these respective country’s domestic and foreign policies.