Regional Studies Journal

The study aims to examine the evolution of Iraqi-Qatari relations between 2017 and 2024, with a particular focus on the political and economic dimensions. This period, marked by the aftermath of the war against ISIS, witnessed a significant shift in the trajectory of bilateral ties between Baghdad and Doha. The significance of this research stems from its contribution to a deeper understanding how both Iraq and Qatar have responded to regional and international transformations-and how these shifts have influenced their strategic calculations. By analyzing developments in this context, the study offers insights into the broader dynamics shaping Gulf and Middle Eastern politics. The research is structured around four core sections. The first explores the political rapprochement between Iraq and Qatar following 2017. The second examines the growth of economic relations, highlighting trade and cooperative agreements. The third investigates the trajectory of Qatari investments in Iraq after 2022, while the fourth analyzes the key obstacles facing Qatari economic engagement, including bureaucratic, legal, and security-related challenges. The study concludes with several important findings. Chief among them is Iraq’s strategic geopolitical position, which presents both opportunities and complexities for regional actors like Qatar. By deepening its political and economic ties with Iraq, Qatar can not only strengthen its influence within the region but also enhance its strategic value as a small state leveraging networked diplomacy. Such engagement positions Doha as a vital partner in Iraq’s reconstruction efforts and an indispensable actor for global powers with major political and security interests in Iraq-particularly the United States.

The core premise of this study centers on the idea that contemporary political life in Lebanon has been deeply marked by one of the most dangerous political phenomena: political assassinations. This phenomenon has had direct and far-reaching implications for Lebanon’s internal political, security, and social landscape. Political assassinations have long been a recurring feature in Lebanese political history, particularly after they began targeting dozens of political, party, and media figures-extending even to Arab and foreign personalities on Lebanese soil, driven by a range of political, partisan, and sectarian motives. These assassinations intensified notably in 2005, amid growing tensions surrounding Syria’s presence in Lebanon. The study aims to analyze the key political developments in Lebanon between 2000 and 2005, which directly contributed to the outbreak of these assassinations. It delves into the details of the killings, the political context surrounding them, and the parties accused of involvement. This historical analysis is crucial for understanding how these events reshaped Lebanon’s political landscape-particularly after the withdrawal of Syrian forces from the country. In line with the nature of historical studies, the research is divided into an introduction and three main sections. The first examines political polarization in Lebanon from 2000 to 2004; the second focuses on the assassination of political figures; and the third investigates the targeting of journalists. The study concludes with several key findings, most notably that the assassination of prominent Lebanese figures-regardless of their political leanings or affiliations-has become a defining feature of Lebanon’s political system, often used as a means of removing influential actors from the political scene. These assassinations reflect the broader regional struggle over Lebanon’s political future.yrian presence in Lebanon. The research aims to analyse the political events that took place in Lebanon in 2000-2005, which were the direct cause behind the occurrence of these assassinations, and to detail the course of these assassinations and the parties accused of carrying them out. This highlights the importance of the research in analysing these events historically, as these assassinations reshaped the political forces and currents in Lebanon once again, especially after the departure of Syrian forces from Lebanon, and in line with the nature of historical studies, the research was divided into an introduction and three discussions: Political division in Lebanon 2000-2004, while the second examined the assassination of political figures: Assassination of political figures, and the third research focused on the study of: Assassination of journalists. The research came up with a number of conclusions, the most important of which is to accuse the Syrian regime of being behind all the assassinations that took place in Lebanon in 2005.

The study aims to shed light on the internal and external factors that contributed to the persistence of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which ultimately led to the outbreak of the Second War between the two countries in 2020 over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as Turkey’s stance and role in this war. The significance of the research lies in its examination of a conflict that lasted nearly two decades between two neighboring countries over the disputed region, along with its political, economic, and security implications for the broader region. The research problem centers around two key questions: What strategic importance does the Nagorno-Karabakh region hold for both Azerbaijan and Armenia, making it a primary driver of the conflict? And how did Turkey’s position during the war shift the balance of power in favor of Azerbaijan? The study includes an introductory overview, eight main sections, and a conclusion. Among its key findings is that Turkey played a decisive role in ending the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in favor of the latter, contributing to regional security stability and reinforcing shared strategic interests between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The study aims to analyze the key challenges facing sustainable development in Iraq after 2003, such as poverty, corruption, and environmental degradation, and to propose effective solutions through comprehensive strategies that include political, economic, and social reforms. The importance of this research lies in its focus on enhancing sustainable development in Iraq after 2003, particularly through improving the health and education sectors and increasing individual income levels. The study contributes to identifying the challenges that hinder progress in these sectors, helping to formulate effective strategies that improve the quality of healthcare and education services and create better job opportunities. Moreover, the research aims to raise public awareness about the importance of investing in these areas, encouraging active participation in the development process. It also supports efforts to achieve social and economic stability, which in turn contributes to improving living standards and building a prosperous future for Iraq. The study is divided into three main sections. The first discusses the concept of sustainable development and its objectives. The second examines the current state of sustainable development in Iraq. The third focuses on solutions and approaches to achieving sustainable development goals in the country. The study concludes with several key findings, the most important of which is that achieving sustainable development requires a shift in development policies, programs, and practices, addressing poverty and meeting human needs, expanding the resource base, redirecting technology, and identifying weaknesses and strengths through continuous monitoring and analysis of sustainable development indicators.

The issues of protecting displaced persons and securing their needs have become one of the most significant global concerns, drawing the attention of various international law experts. This attention aims to develop a substantive legal framework that provides appropriate legal mechanisms for protection, identifies the groups that require safeguarding, and outlines the roles to be played by different actors-particularly states and international organizations. The goal is to establish a comprehensive legal system capable of addressing the emerging challenges caused by increasing and worsening displacement crises, as well as the lack of prior planning and adequate organization for such crises. Consequently, the entire international system requires a fundamental reassessment of its tools, mechanisms, and procedures. This study aims to assess the extent to which the rights of displaced persons are protected under international charters and conventions and to highlight the role of both international and non-governmental organizations in safeguarding these rights. The significance of this research lies in tracing the evolution of international human rights law in dealing with displacement issues, securing the basic needs of displaced populations, and establishing an international framework that guarantees their fundamental rights. The research is based on a central hypothesis: the international community, represented by its humanitarian bodies and organizations, is obligated to adopt further measures and mechanisms to mitigate the humanitarian impact of displacement-a phenomenon that is rapidly increasing alongside the escalation of both international and non-international armed conflicts. The study is divided into three main sections. The first addresses the nature of international protection for displaced persons; the second examines the manifestations of such protection; and the third explores the role of international organizations in safeguarding displaced persons. The study concludes with several findings and recommendations, the most prominent being that the issues and challenges faced by displaced persons represent one of the main obstacles confronting the international community’s efforts to ensure human rights and freedoms during both peace and war.

Traditional penal systems based on custodial penalties face numerous challenges, including the high cost of prisons, increasing crime rates, and the failure to reintegrate offenders into society. Therefore, community service has emerged as an alternative punishment to imprisonment. This penalty requires the convicted individual to perform beneficial work for the community without pay, for a specific period, under the supervision of a competent authority. In light of this, the research aims to clarify the concept of community service and identify its various forms. The importance of this study lies in highlighting the role of community service in achieving restorative justice in society, rather than focusing solely on punishment. Additionally, it promotes a sense of citizenship and social responsibility among offenders and helps integrate them positively into the community. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method and is divided into two main sections: the first section addresses the definition of community service, while the second explores its forms. The study concludes with several findings, the most significant being that community service is a penalty that requires the offender to work for an institution, organization, or public association for a legally specified period determined by the court, without compensation. This penalty produces positive benefits for society.

The Discipline of State and Public Sector Employees Law No. 14 of 1991, as amended, and comparable Egyptian legislation explicitly define the types of disciplinary penalties that the administration can impose on a defaulting public servant. Because of the seriousness of disciplinary penalties that harm the financial status of the employee and his family, when the administration uses its discretionary power in the field of discipline, most countries have followed the general legal principles governing the issue of punishing the employee, the most important of which is the "principle of legality of the disciplinary penalty", which obliges the administration to impose the penalties prescribed by law. The research aims to clarify the concept of disciplinary sanctions and their forms in the Discipline of State and Public Sector Employees Law No. 14 of 1991, as amended, and the Egyptian Civil Service Law No. 81 of 2016, as well as the general legal principles governing disciplinary sanctions. The research adopted an analytical approach to the texts related to disciplinary penalties. The research included two main sections, the first of which dealt with the concept of disciplinary sanctions, and the second examined the forms of disciplinary sanctions. One of the most important conclusions reached by the research is that the penalties of dismissal and removal can only be imposed according to the reasons specified in Article (8) paragraph (VII/VIII) of the Discipline of State and Public Sector Employees Law No. (14) of 1991.

This research aims to examine the role of competitive policies in economic performance, specifically regarding the demand, supply, and importation of rice in Jordan, and to estimate the determinants of rice production over the period from 1980 to 2018. Additionally, the study proposes recommendations to enhance Jordan’s economic performance. The importance of this research is evident from an analysis of Jordan’s competitive policy performance, which reveals a highly sensitive economic reality affected by fluctuations in the value and volume of agricultural imports. This sensitivity arises because local demand depends primarily on imports to cover consumption that exceeds domestic production. Any delay in securing these imports negatively impacts local consumption patterns, representing not only a challenge to economic performance but also a threat to food security. The study is based on the hypothesis that various factors influence the competitive policy related to rice production in Jordan, with impacts that can be either positive or negative. The research adopts a descriptive theoretical approach to competitive policies as well as a quantitative analytical method, utilizing panel data analysis and the least squares estimation technique. The study concludes with the necessity of adopting competitive policies aimed at increasing agricultural production and minimizing obstacles that impede it. This, in turn, will increase the supply of rice, reduce imports, and thus ease the pressure on the state’s general budget.

This study aims to analyze the role of the “Three Lines Model,” developed by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), in enhancing the quality of internal auditing. The model is founded on the clear distribution of responsibilities among three main entities: executive management, risk management and compliance functions, and the internal audit department. This structure is designed to ensure effective governance and the achievement of strategic objectives. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, including a comprehensive literature review, case study analysis, and surveys conducted with auditing practitioners. The findings reveal that the model enhances transparency, reduces conflicts of interest, and increases audit efficiency. However, its implementation faces challenges such as role ambiguity and insufficient resources. To address these issues, the study proposes practical recommendations for activating the model, including clearly documenting roles and responsibilities and utilizing technological tools to support its application.

This research aims to identify the importance of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in reducing the time required to complete the internal auditing process and to examine the impact of using AI in gathering audit evidence. The study employed descriptive, analytical, and inductive methodologies to collect and analyze data. The University of Mosul was selected as the study population, with its internal auditors serving as the sample. Questionnaires were distributed to 52 auditors, with 51 responses received and analyzed using SPSS software. The key findings reveal a statistically significant effect of AI usage in reducing the time needed to complete internal audits, as well as a statistically significant impact on the collection of audit evidence. Among the primary recommendations is the enhancement of internal auditors’ skills in modern technologies through continuous training courses aimed at developing computer proficiency and keeping pace with technological advancements in internal auditing.