The incomplete divorce of Kurdistan region from Iraq

For over a century, the Kurdish question in Iraq has reflected a struggle between demands for self-governance and efforts to preserve the country’s unity. From Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji’s uprisings to the 2017 independence referendum, Kurdish aspirations and Baghdad’s constitutional framework have continuously shaped the political path between Baghdad and Erbil. The 2005 Constitution remains central to resolving disputes and ensuring stability through dialogue, not division.