Historical Background of Kurdish Politics and the Political Party System in the KRI

This chapter examines the historical backgroundhistorical background of the Kurds and their social and political history in the region. The historical background of the Kurds in Iraq is important to explain and understand the different stages and events that led to the divisiondivision of the Kurdish people and their land, because these stages and divisions are considered to be the crux of the weakness of the Kurdish politics in Iraq. It then examines party politics in the KRIKurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), with a main focus on the emergence and development of the main two ruling partiestwo ruling parties, the KDPKurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUKPatriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). It also explains how both parties maintain power and rule the region for years.