The role of parallel diplomacy in strengthening the international standing of the federal territories (Analytical study of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq)

In keeping with the changes that have occurred in the international political arena and due to globalization, new non-state actors have emerged in international relations, among them sub-national units that have come to play an influential role in the international system. Accordingly, parallel diplomacy has emerged to work side by side with traditional diplomacy adopted by states with a federal system. The federal regions, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, employ parallel diplomacy as a means to gain international legitimacy and serve their interests at the local, regional and international levels, thus strengthening their position in the international community. In order to achieve the goal of this study, the researcher used the analytical method and the historical method, and employed the descriptive analytical tool in order to achieve an accurate analysis of the role of parallel diplomacy in strengthening the position of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in the international environment. Keywords: Iraqi Kurdistan; parallel diplomacy; International relations; International society; Federal regions.