Master's Candidate Goes to the Frontline to Research ISIS

Sivan Ghasem, Class of 2017 went to Iraqi Kurdistan this past July to conduct field research for her Master's thesis in International Relations and Diplomacy. Sivan's thesis focuses on the rise of ISIS, examining this issue in relation to the US withdrawal, Nouri Al Maliki's policies, and the process of debaathification in Iraq. She was able to conduct extensive interviews with Iraqi and Kurdish political and military leaders, and to meet with the Peshmerga forces on the front to gain better insight of the situation.

She is now workiing on including all of this information in her thesis. In the meantime, she shared a short account of her trip and some photos.

"In July 2016, I travelled from Paris to the semi-autonomous northern region of Iraq, known commonly as 'Kurdistan'. I decided to make the trek out there because my thesis topic for The American Graduate School in Paris is about the rise of ISIS in the region, and more specifically the fall of Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq currently under the hands of ISIS.

I was intrigued by this topic because Mosul fell under the control of ISIS in June 2014 after just a few days. Iraqi troops fled the city and dropped their arms and the whole world was shocked and mortified at how an insurgent group could so easily knock down the Iraqi army who had been trained and armed by the US. Moreover, I was determined to find the answer and for this I thought I had to go directly to the source.

I spent my summer in Iraq meeting with members of political parties, leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the spokesman for the Iraqi presidency, members of the Peshmerga force (Kurdish soldiers), army Commanders, and Generals. I asked questions and found the information I needed to develop my thesis and their insight was eye opening.

I learned the history of the terrorist group, their war tactics, how they developed into what they are today, why they developed in the first place and most importantly what will happen to Iraq when this brutal militant group dissolves. I learned the fragilities of the nation where I was spending my summer and the importance of global cooperation for a post-ISIS Iraq, and what this means in terms of international security.

Additionally, I spent some time on the front line outside Kirkuk, near Rashad, which is currently held by IS, and was about 1 km away from IS militants. The Peshmerga on the front line and Commander General Hiwa Rash explained to me some of the tactics used by IS and how they had been so successful in subduing the Iraqi forces. Moreover, he explained the Peshmerga strategies swell and mechanics of participation with coalition forces such as the French and the Americans.

Overall, I am very grateful for the experience as it proved to me that I will definitely work in a career that involves international security and counter-terrorism. Additionally, I am eternally grateful to the people who made my trip possible by answering questions and spending the time to make sure I had what I needed to succeed at AGS.

That being said, I am happy to be back safely in France, the place I happily call my home."

Photos of the Front:

Photos of the interviews conducted by Sivan Ghasem:

1. Interview with Khalid Shawni, Presidential Advisor, Spokesman for the Presidency in Iraq

2. Interview with Hiwa Rash, Colonel General of the Peshmerga Forces in Kirkuk 

3. Interview with Dr. Najmaldan Karim, Governor of Kirkuk and Jamal Shukar, one of the leaders of the PUK political party

4. Interview with Rafat Abdullah, Member of Executive Body of PUK Political Bureau 

5. Interview with Nawshirwan Mustafa, Leader of the Gorran Political Party

6. Interview with Jalal Jawher, One of the leaders of the Gorran Political Party in Kurdistan

7. Interview with Mala Bakhtar, Political Bureau executive secretary for the PUK political party