This article aims at providing an alternative view to the prevailing narratives on the timing, the underpinning reasons and actual outcomes of the Kurdistan independence referendum held in September 2017. It is argued that with regard to all above perspectives dominant international analysis of the referendum has failed to account for important socio-political and economic factors without which any objective evaluation of such a prominent regional even will be incomplete if not outright inaccurate.
Vahid Nick Pay is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in International Politics and Research Methods at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of the Kellogg College, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK and a Member of the Senior Common Room, Saint Antony's College, University of Oxford.
He is a member of the Management Committee and Director of the Exam Board at the Diplomatic Studies Programme and also Director of the Exam Board of the Global Health Diplomacy Course. He is also a member of the management committee at the Centre for International Studies (CIS - University of Oxford)
