The International and Political Journal https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political <p><strong>About the Journal</strong></p> <p><strong>The International and Political Journal issued by the College of Political Science / Mustansiriyah University. It is a periodic (Quarterly) specialized journal. It receives the outputs of specialized researchers that deal with contemporary political problems, issues and realities, as well as related topics. These researches are subject to scientific evaluation by specialized researchers according to Specific publishing rules in which the principles of scientific research are taken into account, and the journal’s research and contents are subject to linguistic evaluation by the aforementioned linguistic experts, and the journal’s research is reviewed before issuing each issue by the general supervisor, the editorial board, and the advisory board that consists of Iraqi and Arab specialist professors And foreigners, and the board also receives any comments from readers and specialists, and the editorial board of the journal aspires to elevate it to the ranks of prestigious scientific academic journals, which take into account the quality standards in force globally.</strong></p> <p><strong>Scientific papers are published in the following fields:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Political systems</strong></li> <li><strong>Political thought</strong></li> <li><strong>Relations and international studies</strong></li> <li><strong>Local governments and administration</strong></li> <li><strong>Managing crises, conflicts and international peace</strong></li> <li><strong>All social science disciplines with a political dimension</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>The Journal of Political and International is an open access journal, published under the license:</strong></p> <p><strong>(<a title="a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license</a>).</strong></p> <p><strong>Publisher: Al-Mustansiriya University</strong></p> <p><strong>Institution: College of Political Science</strong></p> <p><strong>Address: Iraq - Baghdad / Bab al-Mu'adham (<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/tu5QzY7gCmGDfPFNA">View in Map</a>)</strong></p> <p><strong>Mustansiriyah University - College of Political Science</strong></p> <p><strong>ISSN: </strong></p> <p><strong>International coding: 8984-1991</strong></p> <p><strong>International electronic coding: 8563-2789</strong></p> <p><strong>Digital Object Port: DOI: 10.31272/IPJ</strong></p> كلية العلوم السياسية - الجامعة المستنصرية en-US The International and Political Journal 1991-8984 <p><strong>Journal Policies</strong><br />All articles published in the International and Political Journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This means that the Authors can:</p> <p>The journal allows reuse and remixing of content in accordance with a Creative Commons license.<br />Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.<br />Policy of publishing in The International and Political Journal</p> <p>The journal is committed to the ethics of scientific publishing, and according to the publication ethics report of the journal.<br />The decision to publish is based on the value of the scientific research, to what extent it meets the conditions of publication approved, the declared policy of the journal, and its specialty.<br />It is based on the principles of the scientific honesty, and originality of research submitted for publication. It deals with the names of reviewers and their reports with great confidentiality.<br />The opinions published in the journal reflect the views of the authors, and not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board.<br />The journal does not adhere to the publication of whatever comes to it. The time and place of publication are subject to technical considerations adopted in the editorial plan of the journal.<br />The journal does not abide to return the research papers to their owners whether accepted for publication or not.<br />The researcher is to be provided with the acceptance of publication within about 24 WEEKS. As for publication, the editorial board reserves its right in priority of publishing. The arrangement of the research papers in the same issue is subject to technical standards.<br />Diversify of publishing papers from solid universities and scientific centers from inside and outside Iraq is preferable.<br />The journal maintains hard copies and electronic archive of the published issues in addition to the publication of the research papers.<br />The journal also publishes the issues electronically through the website of the journal, and the official website of the Iraqi academic journals, and makes it possible to download. Thus, documenting the intellectual property of the research papers and publishing them internationally is achieved.<br />Terms of publication may be modified when necessary with no previous notice.<br />The researcher obtains a copy of his research paper. If he wishes to buy acopy of the journal, the volume costs ID 10000 from inside Iraq and $8from the outside.<br />The Editorial Board considers that the researcher who submits his research paper for publication in the journal has already read the terms and conditions of publication and agreed on them.<br />The journal publishes the research papers of the postgraduate students in special issues for this purpose.</p> <p><strong> Stages of editing and publishing:</strong></p> <p>The researcher undertakes that his research has never been published before, and has not been submitted for publication to other sides until the end of the evaluation procedures and the acceptance of publication in the journal.<br />The research papers submitted for publication are to subjected for preliminary examination by the editorial board to determine their suitability for the journal specialization, its policy and the safety of scientific research procedures, and then to indicate its eligibility for scientific evaluation. The editorial board may apologize for accepting the research all together or require the researcher to amend it in accordance with the journal policy before sending it to editors.<br />After conducting the scientific evaluation, the research paper returns back to the researcher to make the required amendments within a maximum of two weeks.<br />A copy of the final research paper is to be submitted to the secretariat of the journal a hard copy and a soft copy on a CD, in both Word and PDF format. The researcher is fully responsible for the typing and linguistic mistakes after submitting the full research paper on a CD.</p> <p><strong> Plagiarism checker</strong></p> <p> All research papers are subjected to Turnitin program to uncover plagiarism before being sent to scientific evaluation. The researcher undertakes a written pledge to take the legal and moral responsibility, in the event of the emergence of plagiarism or taking from the efforts of other researchers, without a reference to them. The journal uses appropriate anti-plagiarism software, such as Turnitin to check for plagiarism.</p> <p><strong>Dealing with Allegations of Research Misconduct</strong></p> <p>The Journal shall take reasonable and serious steps to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred, including plagiarism, citation manipulation, and data falsification/fabrication.</p> <p><strong> Scientific Evaluation:</strong></p> <p> Scientific evaluation strengthens the research paper submitted to the journal and helps to take the appropriate decision by the editorial board to publish it. It also benefits the researchers to improve and correct their research papers.</p> <p>The research paper is sent to three evaluators in the same specialty to evaluate</p> Economic impacts of artificial intelligence https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/439 <p>&nbsp;Today, the human civilization is witnessing a tremendous development in the technical field that is expected to cast its shadow on human life, namely artificial intelligence, which represents an unprecedented evolutionary leap that enables machines to simulate the way of human thinking, but they are more focused and are not exposed to the stress that afflicts humans. They reduce the time period required for transformation and modernization processes, in addition to the speed of developments and the density of information flowing from various sources, which constitutes an additional burden on countries to catch up in light of fierce competition in leading artificial intelligence systems and its applications based on the idea that whoever possesses leadership in this field will ensure dominance or at least will find a place for himself in the central countries of the international system.</p> Prof. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Issa Abdul Aal Prof. Dr. Falah Khalaf Kazim Prof. Dr. Falah Khalaf Kazim Asst. Prof. Dr. Saad Ali Hussein Asst. Prof. Dr. Haider Abdul Jassas Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 1 18 Digitizing the presidential elections in Iraq https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/440 <p>Information and communication technology (ICT) is the main driving force shaping the 21st century. Its integration into the political realm has had the most significant impact on society, as it has permeated every stage of the electoral process to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and speed. In recent years, elections have been a fertile ground for introducing new technologies, and countries have successfully tested and implemented new voting methods and systems to manage their electoral processes. Iraq is among the countries that have recently started using these technologies in parliamentary elections. Technically, the Iraqi parliamentary elections in 2014, 2018, 2021, and most recently in the provincial council elections in December 2023 have seen the use of technological tools, including biometric applications for voter registration, biometric devices for verifying voter identity on election day, electronic counting machines to expedite results, devices for electronically transmitting election results, and electronic monitoring through surveillance cameras at polling centres and stations. The study results show that the introduction of technology—despite the use of electronic devices in various stages of the Iraqi elections—represents a significant development towards improving the efficiency and transparency of the electoral process. However, several challenges have arisen that have impeded the application of these technologies and ensured electoral conditions, which have led to significant problems from the start of the process to the announcement of results. Examples include malfunctions of voter verification and voting devices, delays in opening some polling stations due to technical issues, and suspicions from political parties and entities regarding election result manipulation both inside and outside Iraq.</p> Prof.Dr Rashid Amara Al-Zaidi Assist lecturer Chanar Omar Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 19 50 How to Balance the Powers and Responsibilities of the Iraqi and Lebanese Prime Ministers in Implementing Public Policy https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/441 <p>This research explores the balance between powers and responsibilities of the Prime Minister in Iraq and Lebanon in the context of public policy implementation. The political systems of both countries are analyzed, with a focus on the powers of the Prime Minister and the challenges faced in executing public policies. The study reveals that Iraq's political system, marked by political pluralism and sectarian divisions, and Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing model both create difficulties in coordinating between the executive and legislative branches. Additionally, corruption and weak institutions play a significant role in hindering the government's ability to effectively implement policies.<br>The research recommends strengthening coordination between authorities, reforming government institutions, reducing sectarian influence, and reforming the electoral system in both countries. It also highlights the importance of activating accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and achieve success in public policy implementation</p> Hassan Dr. Hussein Zarundi Ali Fakher Hassan Hassan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 51 70 Normalization and Economic Employment of Peace: The New Middle East Project as a Model https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/442 <p>The limited growth prospects for the Palestinian economy have restricted its ability to meet local market demands for good and services. Consequently, a new reality of forced economic dependency on Israel has emerged, where the market gap in Palestinian territories is filled by Israel’s economic policies in the occupied Palestinian territories have deprived the West Bank and Gaza of any opportunity to export their surplus to neighboring Arab or Islamic countries. At the same time, these polices have obstructed the import of essential production equipment, machinery, and raw materials.</p> <p>Therefore, the fragility of Palestinian developmental conditions, coupled with the ongoing Israeli occupation, has been a key factor in the failure of political solutions such as the Oslo Accords and the 1994 Paris Protocol, which was based on those agreements. This political and economic stagnation in Palestine necessitates the establishment of an alternative framework aimed at achieving social justice, fostering self-reliance, and breaking free from the forced economic coexistence with Israel under a political peace that fails to bring about any real social justice</p> Prof. Dr. Tarek Abdel Hafeez Ismail Akbar Mohammed Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 71 102 The Impact of Saudi - Iranian Relations on the Future of the Regional Balance of Power https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/443 <p>The pattern of Saudi–Iranian relations has not been consistent; rather, it is a complex mix of conflict, relative convergence of interests, and cautious consensus. To understand the nature of this relationship, it is essential to examine the various factors shaping it. Sectarian conflict is not the sole determinant. Cultural heritage—rooted in historical experiences that shaped national identities plays a significant role, alongside political factors that influence the nature of political systems and their relationship with ruling elites. Additionally, geopolitical dynamics have made the Arabian Gulf a focal point for global power competition, while ideological orientations continue to influence political decision-making.</p> <p>Following Iraq’s exit from the regional balance of power equation in 2003 a role it had traditionally played Iran capitalized on the American occupation to expand its political influence, supporting the formation of an Iraqi government aligned with its interests. This shift created a power imbalance in Iran’s favor, prompting concern in Saudi Arabia. In response, Riyadh has sought to enhance its military and economic capacities, potentially initiating an arms race and fostering counter-alliances, thereby increasing the likelihood of confrontation between the two states.</p> <p>Although there have been attempts by both sides to improve bilateral relations, the primary factors influencing these shifts are international and regional dynamics, rather than the political elites themselves, who play only a secondary role. The recent agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, brokered by China, remains under observation. While it may not resolve deep-rooted and complex regional disputes, it does reflect a mutual desire to pursue dialogue and diplomacy as mechanisms for addressing their differences.</p> Dr. Mohammed Kadhim Abbas Al-Maeeni Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 103 134 Strategic Framework Agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America - Implementation (Mechanisms and Obstacles) https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/444 <p>In our research entitled (The Strategic Framework Agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America), we discussed the historical roots of Iraqi relations with the United States of America, as well as the early beginnings of the Strategic Framework Agreement between the two countries, defining the agreement and the most prominent principles on which it is based, and we addressed the mechanisms for implementing this agreement in the political, economic, security and military aspects, in addition to stating the most prominent obstacles to implementing the agreement, especially internal obstacles from disagreements between internal political forces regarding the implementation of the agreement and the lack of agreement on its legality, and external obstacles from regional and international powers such as terrorism and developments in the war in Gaza in 2023 AD cannot be ignored, in addition to the interests of international powers such as China and the Russian Federation.</p> saand walied saaed qhuson kariam moghtahab hanan faleh hassain kahled mahmmoed r ashiad ragheb faleh hassan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 135 154 The position of the Russian ruling systems towards Muslims in Russia https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/445 <p>Religion plays a prominent role in directing the policy of countries at the internal and external levels, as religion helps at the internal level to achieve social stability, especially if countries guarantee in their constitutions freedom of belief and practice, and translate this on the ground, and with regard to Russia, religion was one of the factors on which it relied in its position To words its citizens who do not believe in the religion of the ruling authority (Muslims), as dealing with them varied according to the orientations of the political authority, they were persecuted in periods of the rule of the Tsars as well as the case during the rule of the Marxists (Soviet Union), but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia emphasized the importance of diversity within its territory and considered it a factor of strength rather than weakness employed in its policies and relations with other countries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> Batool Tariq Ismail Batuol Hussain Alwan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 155 180 Russian Energy Security Strategy in Middle East https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/446 <p>Energy security has a significant political priority and &nbsp;major component of national security for any country in the world. Accordingly, protecting energy security has no less importance than protecting the vital interests and goals of any country. This has prompted major countries - such as the United States, China, Russia, and Japan to develop clear strategies to achieve energy security in strategic regions, including the Middle East, which is one of the most important productions regions in the world.</p> Assist.Prof Dr Shaima Maarouf Farhan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 181 200 Digital Governance: Biometric Registration and Privacy Challenges https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/447 <p>Objectives: Biometrics refers to the use of an individual's unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints, face, iris, or even voice, to identify an individual. Therefore, the study aims &nbsp;to review the most prominent contemporary technologies in the field of employing artificial intelligence in the field of biometric verification. Biometrics provides a powerful and effective means to enhance cybersecurity for countries by taking advantage of unique physiological and behavioral characteristics. Biometric verification provides enhanced security for the government database and an advanced technical experience for all its users.</p> <p>Methodology: The study follows the analytical approach that includes an explanation of the most prominent technical challenges associated with employing artificial intelligence technologies in the field of implementing (Biometric security) biometric security and biometric verification.</p> <p>&nbsp;Results: The results shows that implementing (Biometric security) biometric security requires careful study of appropriate methods, ensuring data security, integration with (Two-factor authentication for biometric verification), and regular system maintenance. In the overall evaluation, the results also shows that identification devices face recognition is highly demanded and recommended by the General Directorate of Narcotics Control</p> Assist. Prof. Dr Ali Daryoul Mohammed Al-Jubouri Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 201 228 The Penal Role of International Court of Justice: A case Study of Sudan after 2011 https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/448 <p>Criminalization is coupled with the idea of ​​punishment. The punishment&nbsp; are to be discussed in this study has an international character and does not pertain to an internal system, but rather pertains to the international system and the idea of ​​imposing international punishment on countries, and this may intersect with the idea of ​​sovereignty, which is one of the constants of the international system. This makes research into the punishment for criminal acts of an international nature given the virtue international relations between developing and central countries in the international system.</p> Mona Abdulaziz Almelhem Faieq Hassen Jasem Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 225 244 The Imamate Theory in Izadi Political Thought https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/449 <p>This Study, which has the title &nbsp;( The imamate theory in Ibadi&nbsp;&nbsp; political thought ), &nbsp;presents the intellectual and political starting points of ibadi imamate theory and to indicate the extent of the contribution made by this theory in preserving the existence of the Ibadi and their continued survival until now . As a result, this required dividing this study into introduction, five sections and conclusion. &nbsp;The first section is about the emergence of the Ibadi and the extent of their connection with the kharitijites . The second section shows the concept&nbsp;&nbsp; of the imamate ,its necessity , as well as, the evidence for its obligation among the Ibadi &nbsp;. The third section presents the conditions for the imam and the methods of appointing him. The fourth section is about the issue of deposing the imam and rebelling against him .&nbsp; Finally, the fifth section presents the types of imamate “paths of religion" among the Ibadhiya . As a result, the study reached a set of findings and conclusions.</p> Assist .prof .Dr .Abdul Salam Sh'head Ajmi Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 245 268 American Strategy in the Middle East: Constants and Variables https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/450 <p>The Middle East region has a great importance in the calculations of many countries in the world, and the United States of America is at the forefront, as this region is one of the regions where the vital American interests are concentrated that could not be dispensed with. In fact, the United States of America is fully prepared to use its military force in the event that any of its interests in the Middle East are threatened. Especially with regard to Iraq, given the strategic importance of Iraq in the American strategic perception, with its important and influential geographical location and natural resources, we find that the United States of America has directed its strategic planning towards Iraq since the beginning of the implementation of its global strategic plans after World War II, but that orientation was limited to the economic aspect, especially oil. However, since the seventies of the last century, Iraq has become a clear threat to American strategic interests, which prompted its strategic decision-making circles to plan for the purpose of containing Iraq, as it considered it a serious threat to its vital interests in the region and to the security of (Israel), in addition to the issue of oil, which we will shed light on in this study.</p> Assist lecturer. Venus Ghalib Kamel Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 269 296 Iraq in the Chinese Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges of Economic Development https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/451 <p>Each institution follows a specific strategy to achieve its national interests and national security, which naturally belongs to international conditions and balances. China, which has seen a significant rise in its rise as a major power, is due to the lack of energy due to its dependence on large imports of oil imports from the Middle East. Since 2003, China has used soft power in Iraq, taking advantage of the oil route links to strengthen it in the Gaza Strip, and investing in reconstruction projects. Therefore, China contributes to strengthening it economically through economic cooperation, and Iraq stands out in the Chinese diversified strategy as a source of this in addition to its important geographical location, which is what attracts economic development opportunities and Iraq should address the problems that may hinder it.</p> Lecturer Dr. Reem Faisal Gerges Shahd Ghaleb . Lecturer Dr Ali ra Kazim Lecturer Manati. lecturer Ahmed Aqil Abdel Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 297 314 Exceptional Circumstances of the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/452 <p>The balance of power between states of emergency and human rights is a challenge in the Middle East, with Iraq being a prominent example. Historically, governments have used states of emergency to suppress opposition, resulting in widespread human rights violations. Exceptional laws are often interpreted in favor of the regime rather than the national interest, increasing political and economic pressures. To ensure protection, effective mechanisms of oversight and monitoring, including the establishment of independent committees and regular reporting on human rights violations, must be in place.</p> Lecturer Dr. Fouad Saadoon Shie Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 315 330 Corruption in Iraq after 2003 and its repercussions on national sovereignty https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/453 <p>After 2003, Iraq witnessed a period of oversight and oversight by oversight and administration. Public workers, the absence of targeted groups, and the prevalence of party and partisan favoritism led to a fertile environment for the growth of networks, primarily within the state. This creativity manifested itself in various forms, including the waste of public funds, fictitious contracts, and the politicization of employment, in addition to the penetration of joint influence within various political and administrative parties. This does not only mean the lack of internal oversight, but also direct investment in national sovereignty, as it contributed to the emergence of the state and the collapse of confidence in governing institutions. This led to an interest in intervening in Iraqi affairs and the ability to lead nationally through networks of political and economic influence. On the other hand, it contributed to achieving economic development,</p> Lecturer Dr. Ali Mahdi Kadum Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 331 356 The Position of Non-Member States in the International Criminal Court Regarding Its Decisions to Hold War Criminals Accountable: Putin and Netanyahu as a Model https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/454 <p>The International Criminal Court (ICC) is one of the most prominent international judicial institutions aimed at holding perpetrators of international crimes accountable, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Despite its declared objectives of achieving international justice, the ICC's work has sparked widespread controversy among both member and non-member states. This debate is particularly evident in the positions of non-member states toward the Court's decisions, especially those targeting prominent political figures such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.This study examines the stance of non-member states on the ICC's decisions aimed at holding war criminals accountable, focusing on the cases of Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.</p> Noor Ali Lecturer. Dr Sekeb Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 357 374 Climate Changes and their Impact on Water Security in Iraq after 2003 https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/455 <p>Despite of the remarkable and rapid development in all fields of science and knowledge which, increases human well-being and a comfortable life on this planet. There are always still some challenges that distort the picture and limit the results of this unprecedented development. Climate change is one of the phenomena that represent the greatest challenge. For humanity during the twenty-first century, with implicit problems related to the escalation of global warming, energy production, water scarcity, its impact on agricultural production, problems of environmental pollution, conflicts and wars over land, resources, water and food, the problem of extinction and loss of biodiversity, deforestation, as well as the elimination of lungs. Land, fish wealth, overfishing, waste &nbsp;management, as well as recycling. It is noted that the impact of climate change in its entirety has a negative impact on all economic and social aspects related to human life and existence on the surface of this planet and that these changes have a major impact on Iraqi water security and there are also human challenges. It contributes to the impact on Iraqi water security, including external challenges, increasing population, in addition to the lack of water rationalization.</p> Lecturer Dr. Sumaya Ghaleb Zanjeel Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 375 398 The Impact of the Ukrainian Conflict on US Foreign Policy in the Middle East: An Analytical Study https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/458 <p>The Russian-Ukrainian war has added a new dimension to international relations over the past three decades, especially after the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as is evident in the extent of the entanglements and overlaps that include many international issues and files, whether they are in direct or indirect contact with the sub-regions, most notably the Middle East region. This situation has prompted many to talk about the possibility of reproducing the “Cold War era”, the most prominent manifestations of which are the increase in “military mobilizations” and the adoption of a policy of “flexible alliances”, and strategies of “deterring opponents” in addition to a state of “political and diplomatic deadlock” in resolving the crisis, as well as the “international division” into two axes, each of which seeks to achieve the greatest possible benefit from the current crises.&nbsp; Moreover, the developments witnessed by the twenty-first century in all its political, economic, social and cultural aspects have placed the Middle East region at the forefront of global strategies, thanks to the region’s wealth, resources, and wealth and energy sources. The region has become the focus of attention and competition of global power, and accordingly, the need arose for the United States of America to change its strategies towards the Middle East region because of the variables, especially the Russian Ukrainian war.</p> Dr Mazen Khalil Ibrahim Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 399 418 Israeli Strategic Development in Defensive Capabilities https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/459 <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Most governments in the international system seek to establish a defensive force to prevent external interference in their internal affairs. The situation for Israel is somewhat different. Being surrounded by enemies from all sides, it requires &nbsp;to be a superior power by possessing defensive capabilities that are greater than the countries of the region, and this would not have been achieved without the support of the great powers, such as the United States of America, the countries of the European Union, as well as the former Soviet Union, as it searches ( Israel) strives to possess nuclear weapons and monopolize them only in the Middle East region to enable it to excel in military capabilities over the countries of the region, and due to the support of European countries such as France, it possessed the nuclear bomb, and despite the dependence of the countries of the North, or what are known as the Central Powers, on the oil of the (developing) South countries. Arab-American relations were not equal to American-Israeli relations, and in addition to electronic power and cyber power, it worked to develop its capabilities in cyberspace, and all of these developments it achieved in the field of defense capabilities had an impact on the Middle East, in all fields.</p> Lecturer Dr. Moamar Jalil Maktouf Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 419 442 French Influence in the African Sahel: Opportunities and Challenges https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/460 <p>France aims to maintain its influence in the African continent in general and the Sahel countries in particular, by supporting these countries with weapons to fight terrorists and supporting leaders loyal to it with international legitimacy, which makes it the destiny in these countries, and despite French efforts, it meets the expansion of the influence of other countries such as the United States of America, China and other countries, which puts France in a test in order to achieve its goal.</p> Assist lec. Jihad Abbas Ali Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 443 460 Türkiye's diplomacy towards the Gulf states after the 2017 Gulf crisis https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/461 <p>Turkey emerged as a prominent regional power during the Gulf crisis, playing a vital role in the Gulf region. It tries to mediate the crisis from its inception, with the Turkish president sending a delegation in early June 2017 to meet with officials in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This effort yielded no notable results, and Ankara was quickly surprised by the blockade and severance of ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017. This has prompted the Turkish government, which had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Qatar in 2014 to urgently request parliamentary ratification of the agreement and to begin intensive efforts to activate the Turkish military base in Qatar. Ankara also quickly launched a large-scale airlift operation to provide food supplies to the Qatari market, whose supplies were affected by the blockade measures and the closure of Qatar's only land crossing with Saudi Arabia.</p> Assist.Lec. Mohammed Karim Aliwi Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 461 476 The Role of Panchayats in Promoting Democracy and Political Participation in India https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/462 <p>Panchayats are an essential part of the Indo-Yemeni system, representing the local level of government and contributing to the management of local affairs. They were originally established under the Constitution of 1973 and formally implemented in 1992 to promote political participation and democracy at the grassroots level. The aim was to empower people from different social groups through the Panchayat system, enabling broader participation in the democratic process and promoting local accountability, justice, and inclusive representation.</p> <p>By directly involving citizens in decision-making, Panchayats enhance the value of democracy within the community. They also contribute to the provision of essential services, such as healthcare, by creating platforms for addressing local issues and holding officials accountable for their performance and political engagement.</p> <p>A certain percentage of Panchayat seats are reserved for women, which has strengthened their political voice and encouraged greater community participation. Through the involvement of citizens in planning and implementation, Panchayats have increased political awareness and played a significant role in executing local development projects. This has improved living standards and strengthened the relationship between the government and citizens.</p> <p>However, Panchayats face challenges, including weak administrative capacity, external political interference, and resistance to change from some traditional institutions. Despite these obstacles, the Panchayat system in India serves as a model for effective political participation and democratic strengthening at the local level. The continued success of this model depends on sustained support and development of local authorities to address these ongoing challenges.</p> Assistant lecturer Rasha fadhil jazzaa Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 477 496 The Role of the Seminary in Confronting the Israeli Entity: Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Khamenei as Models https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/463 <p>This research focuses on the role of religious authority among Shiite Muslims in confronting the Israeli entity, particularly through the issuance of religious fatwas aimed at educating Muslims about the dangers of normalizing relations with the State of Israel and emphasizing the Palestinian cause as a central issue. It also highlights the injustices endured by the Palestinian people, shedding light on the oppression and suffering they face. The study discusses the positions of prominent Shiite authorities worldwide, including Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, the leading figure of the religious seminary in Iraq, and Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.</p> Assistant lectuer Fuad Karim Khadir Katea Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 497 510 Cybersecurity and its Impact on the National Security of Countries https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/464 <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nowadays, the world is witnessing many transformations and changes in all fields, as a result of the tremendous technological development, especially in information and communications, which has led to the creation of a new environment for interaction between individuals and societies on the one hand and countries on the other hand in an environment full of risks, threats and conflict and which has constituted a serious threat to society and the state, as the concepts of power, conflict, and war have changed and their nature has been linked to cyber security. The threats resulting from it have emerged as a new form of threat that depends on the use of modern digital technologies to achieve multiple goals. Many international actors have become a source of danger that threatens the security of societies by spreading their ideas and values ​​on social media networks. By recruiting the largest possible number of individuals and teaching them how to hack websites and other electronic crimes such as infiltration and spying on sensitive networks and sending threatening messages to countries to accept them, so countries worked, in order to protect their national security, by establishing many civil and military bodies and institutions, and developing their own strategies. Enacting legal legislation to confront cyber security threats , as well as strengthening regional and international cooperation to protect countries from cyber-attacks.</p> Assist lecturer Shahad Adnan Saleh Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 511 532 The Impact of Electoral Systems on Government Formation and Stability in Developing Countries: Selected Models https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/465 <p>This research presents a comparative study of three Arab developing countries Iraq, Algeria, and Egypt to analyze the impact of electoral systems on government formation and political stability. The study explores the legal and historical background of each electoral system, the mechanisms of forming executive power, as well as, the level of political stability resulting from each system within its national context. The findings of the study reveal that the electoral systems in developing countries influence not only the type of political representation but also the overall stability of governments. In Iraq, proportional representation ensured inclusiveness but led to fragile coalition governments. In Algeria, the closed-list proportional system provided apparent stability under a dominant ruling party. Egypt experienced multiple electoral reforms that produced varying patterns of representation and stability, shifting from pluralism to authoritarian consolidation.</p> <p>The study concludes that the effectiveness of electoral systems in supporting stable governance depends on their design and compatibility with the political and social context. It recommends adopting mixed systems that balance representation with governability and fostering a culture of political consensus.</p> Assist lecturer Huayda Abbas Fadhil Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 533 554 Article Review (Israeli Recruitment Strategy: Anti-Semitism) https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/466 <p>Article review</p> zaydoon salaman mohammed Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 573 580 )Artical Review( :Calm after the storm? What the EU must do if Trump imposes a ceasefire means doing much more to protect Ukraine and Europe? https://ipj.uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/index.php/political/article/view/467 <p>Article review</p> Lecture. Dr. Jabar Hassan Saeed Assist. prof.Dr Mustafa Jaber Fayyadh Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2025-07-01 2025-07-01 63 63 581 586