US Foreign Policy Towards National Movements: Impact of Joint Combat Operations, Affective Trust, and Identity

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dc.contributor.authorBarwari, Delovan Fattahen
dc.contributor.committeechairLevinson, Chaden
dc.contributor.committeememberAhram, Ariel I.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCharountaki, Mariannaen
dc.contributor.committeememberToal, Gerarden
dc.contributor.departmentPublic Administration/Public Affairsen
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-15T09:00:18Zen
dc.date.available2025-02-15T09:00:18Zen
dc.date.issued2025-02-14en
dc.description.abstractThis study explores US foreign policy toward national movements (NMs), focusing on Kurdish groups across all parts of Kurdistan: Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. It investigates the central question of why the US views certain Kurdish NMs as strategic allies while labeling others as terrorists. The PKK and PYD—sister organizations sharing the same ideology and leader—serve as a prime example of this inconsistency: the PKK is designated a terrorist organization, while the PYD has emerged as a key US partner. Similarly, Iraq's Kurdish ruling parties were initially placed on the third-tier terrorist list, only to later become Washington's most reliable allies in Iraq. The study reveals that this discrepancy is mainly due to the impact of joint combat operations. Driven by US strategic interests, these operations strengthen ties with NMs partners. Positive joint operations, free of insider attacks, are instrumental in building rational trust that evolves into affective trust over time. This trust elevates them to in-group status, fostering a shared identity. The affective bonds forged during these combat experiences shape policy makers' perceptions, further reinforcing these relationships. Furthermore, diplomatic engagements in the post-combat phase complement this process, deepening trust and enabling the US and NMs to address challenges collaboratively while advancing broader strategic objectives.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralThis study examines US foreign policy towards national movements (NMs), focusing on Kurdish groups in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. It investigates why the US sees some Kurdish groups as strategic allies while labeling others as terrorists. A key example is the PKK and PYD—two related organizations with the same ideology, symbols and ideological leader. The PKK is considered a terrorist group, while the PYD has become an important US partner. Similarly, Iraq's Kurdish ruling parties were once on a third-tier terrorist list but later became the United States' most reliable allies in Iraq. The study finds that this inconsistency is largely due to the impact of joint combat operations. These operations, driven by US strategic interests, help strengthen ties with NM partners. Positive joint operations, where there are no insider attacks, build trust. Over time, this trust evolves into stronger, emotional bonds, turning these groups into in-group partners with a shared identity. These bonds influence policymakers' views and deepen the relationship. Additionally, diplomatic engagement after these combat operations further strengthens trust, allowing the US and NMs to work together on challenges while advancing broader strategic goals.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:42373en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/124585en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectUS Foreign Policyen
dc.subjectJoint Combat Operationsen
dc.subjectRational Trusten
dc.subjectAffective Trusten
dc.subjectShared Identityen
dc.subjectNational Movementsen
dc.subjectNon-State Actorsen
dc.subjectKurdistanen
dc.subjectIraqi Kurdsen
dc.subjectSyrian Kurdsen
dc.subjectKurds of Turkeyen
dc.subjectIranian Kurds.en
dc.titleUS Foreign Policy Towards National Movements: Impact of Joint Combat Operations, Affective Trust, and Identityen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplinePlanning, Governance, and Globalizationen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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