Washington Kurdish Institute
By: Ari Goldman
June 5, 2017
The need has arisen of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq to transition their current military structure into a national one. As of now, the KRG operates its military as an effective, but divided fighting force. An intricate bevvy of military forces operates where loyalty is first given to geographically based political parties and then to the legally-sanctioned regional authority which administers Iraqi Kurdistan. Though worrying, this is par for the course for emerging states. The military is the most crucial institution for states born from, and into, conflict. Soldiers become bureaucrats and officers become politicians. The current time of conflict between the Kurds and the Islamic State opens a window of opportunity for greater unity between the two main Iraqi Kurdish political parties which maintain armed forces, (i.e., peshmerga). The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriot Union of Kurdistan (PUK) still face internal difficulties. At present the KDP and PUK maintain not only fully separate battalions of Peshmerga fighters, but also separate officer training schools. Token national units have been undermined by bipartisan discord; by forming a more unified, national military, the KRG can recruit from a more regionally diverse candidate school which allows for the development of inter-regional trust and national development on both an individual and an institutional level. The KRG will have continued trouble unifying as a nation if they do not take advantage of this window of opportunity.
Reviewing for context
The fundamental purpose of state institutions must be evaluated for both the current political climate and future possible political climates. Where the ultimate goal of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is to attain national autonomy through peaceful transition, a critical approach is warranted in review of state institutions. Certain state institutions will have little difference in change of operations. Institutions involved in the maintenance of sewage systems are unlikely to change, no matter how regional and international politics evolve.
There are however, other institutions that will need to prepare for political and economic developments. These developments are most notably the slow decline of Daesh, the monetary contributions of other countries for humanitarian and military assistance and the global price of oil.
The institution this paper focuses on is the same institution that has the opportunity to play the greatest role in statecraft. The Peshmerga are a diversified network of government military forces. The purpose of focusing on this institution is that there is great benefit in its restructuring in any climate. Regardless of the current financial situation, the Peshmerga can be restructured to not only create a higher level of organizational efficiency, but a greater and more defined output.
The concept that the military is only a force for defense or offense is based in rational thought. Though its intended function may be for fighting, there are multiple roles played by a military in a functioning democracy. The primary beneficial byproduct is that it integrates the larger population. Each time an army has been opened up to a larger population or militias have been nationalized into a single force, the state benefits. The integration that occurs fosters a more unified populace. New networks of communication develop. These networks foster national definition and create potential for a unified growth.
A unified military construct, under proper conditions, develops human capital. Claudia Goldin, of Harvard University’s Department of Economics, describes human capital as “the stock of skills that the labor force possesses.” Nations where the military is an active and prominent institution have the opportunity to refine the training of their soldiers to highlight skills universal to work productivity.
A comparison of other forces that have nationalized: Israel, Singapore, and Brazil
In Israel, soldiers are familiarized with organizational bureaucracy, technological innovation and practical leadership skills. Not only are these skills useful in retaining a competitive battlefield advantage, they create an economically productive citizenry. Soldiers go through an intense battery of paperwork and organizational complexity every time they check out gear, transfer units or attend advanced courses. This repeated bureaucratic procedure manifests itself positively after military service, when many young Israelis take to forming companies. The endless stream of legal documentation, the brain ache of investor protocols and logistical book-keeping are all advantages young Israelis use to place themselves at the forefront of the startup scene of the 21st century. At present, Israel is the foreign country with the greatest number of companies traded on the Nasdaq with the exception of China.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) also promotes innovation through its soldiers. Though the military focuses on high tech advantages such as surveillance drones, state of the art weapons systems and virtual reality simulators, there is a much more low tech ground level innovation that goes on everyday. Ground troops are, often on purpose, given incomplete information, dysfunctional gear and abstract exercises. During training periods, this occurs daily and forces even the lowest ranked soldiers to learn elements of game theory, strategic thinking and how to act in no win scenarios. These exercises are often held under duress with few hours of sleep and after physical exhaustion. This assists in battlefield engagements and developing of entrepreneurial momentum.
The last piece of Israel’s strategy for developing human capital via the military is the most notable. Israel creates a multifaceted and fluid leadership structure. Though officers retain ultimate authority, a lower level authority is provided to front line infantry groups. “Commander” and “sergeant” courses are available for those wishing to have increased authority without having to sign on more time. Further authority is transferred between low level troops to lead certain missions or parts of missions. A fluidity of information exchange also exists to create an optimal information input system for mission specifics. When conducting a mission, the officer in charge leads a briefing where he informs the troops of the mission details and specifics. Then, a round of questions is taken followed by a round of opportunity for suggestions. The commanding officer will either take these suggestions and change the plan or stick to the original. The last component of the briefing is an end clarification of the plan. In this way, the IDF creates a defined hierarchy that allows for greater input to produce a more beneficial output. By having all soldiers experience leadership, the burdens thereof are better appreciated and general hands-on supervision skills improve. These skills carry over heavily into civilian life, where soldiers have the opportunity to become everything from project managers to business revolutionaries.
It is within living memory that Israel was where the KRG finds itself now. In the late 1940’s, Israel fought a war for independence, defeating many who wished for the new nation’s destruction. Local troops joined militias like the Hagana, the Palmach and Lehi, similar to the different wings of the modern Peshmerga. Israel would not continue to exist, had it not nationalised these groups into one unified military. Over time, the military evolved to match the economic needs of a rapidly growing population with new immigrants coming from all corners of the world.The KRG may not have resources to match Israel and develop a high tech sector, enter global markets or receive capital investment at the same rate. However, military avenues of human capital development can play an even stronger role in assisting a developing nation. One direct example of this can be seen in Singapore. As one of the four designated Asian Tigers, Singapore has a mandatory military service for all able-bodied men over 18. This mandatory service allows for a natural integration of its citizenry which provides great instrumental value. This military structure has also helped the country transform from a small set of fishing villages to a nation ranking in the top 15 on the Human Development Index (HDI). All of this occurred in under 60 years. Lee Kuan Yew, the long reigning first prime minister of the country, revealed that Israel had agreed to help model the Singapore Defense Force after its own military structure.
The KRG finds itself in a rare window of opportunity to secure autonomy and statehood for the burgeoning Kurdish nation. The most crucial ways this can be achieved is through prudent planning vis-à-vis its greatest institution, the Peshmerga. Should the KRG be able to nationalise its forces and develop human capital, the likelihood for international recognition and smooth transition into federal autonomy will skyrocket.
The idea of wholly eliminating the current structure of the Peshmerga all at once would be absurd – it is clear that a gradual transition is the only feasible way. This would involve allowing volunteer participation and merit based selection into a more specialized fighting force. Many countries such as Brazil take this approach to create a mixed regional and national fighting force. More common roles are regional and more specialized roles are national in nature. The United States does this as well – state based National Guard units receive less training and are deployed after national, more qualified resources are exhausted.
For now, the world is on the side of the KRG. In the face of unspeakable horror, an opportunity has been presented to display national integrity. The KRG has done an admirable job in defining itself as a state with the resources it has thus far. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention, a country must have a permanent population, the ability to enter into relations with other countries through means of political authority and a defined territory. By transitioning to a more nationalized military system, Iraqi Kurdistan can better delineate border definitions while Daesh is subdued. When Daesh is finally defeated, a built up wealth of human capital will be a prime asset in national development.
If Iraqi Kurdistan can properly prepare itself, it will be welcomed into the hall of nations. A self-governing Kurdish state exacted from today’s Iraq has the ability to make history and finalize the destiny that Saddam Hussein forced through violent marginalization. It is a destiny hastened through massacres of Daesh and a shirking of responsibility from Baghdad to exercise national obligations. Nationhood is the birthright of all peoples, but now it is the rightful time for Kurds. The dawn approaches and a bright sun rises.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and positions expressed by authors and contributes do not necessary reflect those on the WKI.