Dissertation proposal

The formative assessment for this module is your dissertation topic proposal form:Im currently thinking about focusing on Kurdish security actors, particularly the Peshmerga, and their role in the fight against ISIS. What Im interested in is how Kurdish forces adapted to irregular warfare and worked alongside international coalition forces, and whether any of this had significance beyond the immediate conflict.

At this stage, Im not trying to argue that the Peshmerga reshaped global military doctrine, but rather to explore whether their experience influenced how coalition partners approached irregular or hybrid warfare, even in more limited or informal ways.

Right now, Im working with something along these lines:

Main question:
To what extent did the Peshmergas experience fighting ISIS shape wider thinking about irregular warfare?

Some guiding questions:

  • How did the Peshmerga respond militarily to the specific threat posed by ISIS?
  • What role did cooperation with coalition forces play in shaping Kurdish tactics and capabilities?
  • Are there examples of lessons learned from Kurdish operations being taken up by coalition partners?
  • What does this case tell us about the ability of non-state or semi-autonomous actors to influence security practices?

Requirements: 3000

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