No doubt, Iraq is a vital part of the Arabian Gulf thanks mainly to the common geographical, social and cultural affinities that link them together, in addition to their shared cultural heritage. In fact, the major developments that have unfolded across the Gulf region in contemporary times have been connected in one way or another with the political behavior of Iraq, whether in the shape of conflicts or within the framework of inter-state cooperation. As such, it is almost certain that developments unfolding in Iraq in the post-war period are bound to reflect necessarily and fundamentally on the security and economic structures of other Gulf States.

Bearing these realities in mind, the Gulf Research Center (GRC) has placed the Iraqi file on its research priorities. The GRC puts out a peer-reviewed series entitled ‘Iraq Studies’, which systematically discerns and analyzes the manifold political, security, defense, economic as well as social developments unraveling in Iraq. ‘Iraq Studies’ sheds light on post-war Iraq and the ramifications that might emanate from ongoing developments and their impact on the region, together with their wider effects on the international scene. 

This academic contribution by the GRC comes about as an earnest effort to gain a better and objective understanding of ongoing developments in post-war Iraq in a bid to bolster regional Gulf security.