Hammurabi journal for studies

State policies emerge from rapid tactics designed to achieve objectives at the lowest possible cost through well-considered steps. Foreign policy is essentially a reflection of a state’s domestic policy and an external projection of its vision. This is primarily realized through diplomacy, which constitutes the executive instrument of foreign policy in its traditional form. In the context of digital technologies, states have become engaged in a race to acquire comprehensive mastery of the fundamentals of these technologies. Such developments have strengthened the presence of digital diplomacy and expanded its political role, enabling states to communicate and project their narratives in a more professional and significantly faster manner. Moreover, information has become widely accessible, no longer requiring extensive infrastructure, substantial financial resources, or large human capital. Digital technologies have also contributed to systematic processes of influence and guidance over populations, employed by various actors, including states and non-state entities alike. In light of emergent crises.

The strategy of "Hybrid Military Intervention" adopted by the United States in managing the Libyan crisis in 2011, focusing on the fundamental shift in intervention objectives from "protecting civilians" under UN Resolution 1973 to political "regime change." The study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to deconstruct the tools of this intervention, which combined air power (NATO), cyber and intelligence operations, and support for local armed actors, without a large-scale deployment of ground forces. The study concludes that this hybrid model achieved the U.S. tactical goal of overthrowing the Gaddafi regime at minimal cost; however, strategically, it led to the collapse of Libyan state institutions and the prevalence of a "non-state" condition due to the absence of post-conflict reconstruction plans.

This study examines the concept of "Management by Crisis" as a contemporary paradigm in American strategic thought. It aims to analyze how the United States has institutionalized this concept as a pivotal tool in shaping its strategic perception toward Iran following the events of September 11- 2001, utilizing the Iranian nuclear program crisis as a primary case study. The study is predicated on the hypothesis that U.S. foreign policy does not seek the definitive resolution of Middle Eastern crises, but rather aims to "frame and manage" their trajectories. This approach ensures the sustainability of regional hegemony, safeguards vital interests most notably the security of allies primarily Israel secures energy supplies, and contains international and regional adversaries. The findings suggest that Management by Crisis has evolved into a structural strategic doctrine in U.S. policy toward the region.

This study examines the impact of regional events and issues on Iraq after 2020, a period during which Iraq has emerged as a focal point of regional and international power competition.

This study examines the role of digital sovereignty as a central strategic framework in contemporary international competition. Control over data, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies has emerged as a critical determinant of state power. The research analyzes the competition between the United States and China as a global model for leveraging cyberspace as a tool of influence and strategic power projection.The study further applies this analysis to the Middle East, with a focus on regional competition between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It illustrates how digital sovereignty can be strategically employed to enhance regional influence and reshape power balances. Consequently, digital sovereignty is not merely a technical instrument encompassing digital infrastructure; it constitutes a strategic framework that directly affects states’ capacity to manage international relations and expand their global digital influence.

the manifestations of an orientation toward war in contemporary Chinese strategic thought by analyzing the fundamental transformations that have occurred in China’s military doctrine and strategy within the context of a changing international security environment, intensifying great-power competition, and the rapid pace of military technological advancement. The study is premised on the hypothesis that China has gradually shifted from traditional defensive doctrines toward the adoption of more flexible and dynamic military approaches, incorporating war as a potential strategic option.

This study explores the concept of soft war and its role in destabilizing political systems. It analyzes the emergence, tools, and strategies of soft war in influencing the values, identity, and political behavior of societies. The research demonstrates that soft war has become a less costly and more effective alternative to hard power in achieving political objectives. Additionally, the study examines the mechanisms through which political systems can respond to and counter this contemporary form of threat.

Political extremism represents a grave societal phenomenon that poses a significant threat to social cohesion and stability. It contributes to deep national fragmentation by generating structural divisions within the social fabric, thereby undermining unity among the diverse components of a single society. This dynamic is largely attributable to the tendency of extremist actors to adopt violence as a principal instrument for advancing their objectives and ideological convictions. In addition, such actors may resort to forms of intellectual and psychological coercion directed against those who dissent from their views or obstruct the realization of their ideological agenda.

This research aims to study the digital financial transformation and its impact on the banking sector by analyzing digital banks as a product of the development of financial technology. The research focuses on understanding the political and economic dimensions accompanying this transformation and its impact on the structure of the traditional financial system and the public policies of countries. The research reviews the theoretical concepts of digital transformation and analyzes global digital financial inclusion statistics, highlighting the regulatory challenges facing digital banks and the need to achieve a balance between financial innovation and legal oversight. The research also demonstrates the theoretical importance of enriching the academic literature in this field and the practical importance of helping policymakers and banking institutions make informed decisions towards adopting digital transformation in a safe and sustainable manner. The research concludes that banking digitization represents a radical transformation that requires the development of legal and economic frameworks to keep pace with it. Digital Financial Inclusion Rate (2023) China: 90% (200 million digital users). India: 85% (180 million users). European Union: 80% (150 million users). United States: 75% (120 million users). Japan: 65% (80 million users).

Political decision-making has traditionally been regarded as an inherently human function, requiring judgment, moral reasoning, and individual agency. However, this paradigm is rapidly evolving with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). This study examines how the algorithmic capabilities of AI enable the analysis of complex datasets and the generation of predictive insights, thereby reshaping traditional conceptions of political power, legitimacy, and accountability.

Iraqi national identity is among the most fragmented in the Arab world, having been profoundly shaped by the political and social transformations the country has experienced over the past decades, particularly following 2003. This study aims to analyze the relationship between collective memory—as a repository of historical experience—and processes of cultural reconstruction that seek to restore the social fabric and reinforce an inclusive national identity. The study adopts a sociological and cultural approach to examine the reciprocal influence between memory and identity, with particular attention to artistic practices, popular rituals, and contemporary institutional initiatives. It concludes that Iraqi collective memory, despite its deep wounds, retains the capacity to transform into a mechanism for cohesion and for the rearticulation of a shared national meaning, provided that it is managed through an integrated framework of cultural awareness and legal governance.

The political security in Iraq prior to 2003, with a particular focus on the problem of its lack of sustainability. The former regime was grounded in an authoritarian and totalitarian governing philosophy aimed at preserving political power through an extensive array of security and political instruments, including intelligence services, security apparatuses, party structures, and pervasive societal surveillance. While these mechanisms proved effective in maintaining short-term control over the domestic arena, the absence of sustainable security policies, combined with the social and political marginalization of various societal groups and the lack of engagement with international norms, ultimately undermined the resilience of political security. The consequences of this structural fragility became evident following the collapse of the regime, particularly in relation to social, political, and economic stability.

This study examines the central paradox of the political economy of Venezuelan oil: the stark contradiction between the country’s vast hydrocarbon reserves and its weak global market influence. It analyzes the underlying structural drivers of this paradox, including geotechnical challenges and high marginal production costs, as well as domestic institutional and political factors that have culminated in international legal disputes. The study further explores the geopolitical dimension, arguing that external pressures extend beyond the pursuit of resource control to encompass a broader regional strategy aimed at reshaping spheres of influence. It concludes that the Venezuelan case exemplifies the structural dilemmas of rentier economies, in which governance risks and institutional fragility outweigh purely technical challenges. Accordingly, the paper emphasizes the need for an integrated analytical framework that clearly distinguishes between theoretical reserves and actual productive capacity, while accounting for the complex interaction among technical, institutional, and geopolitical variables.

This study traces the profound structural transformation in the contemporary geopolitical order, examining the shift from a model of open globalization grounded in comprehensive interdependence to a model of selective economics,” in which global flows are re-engineered according to national security imperatives and geostrategic competition. The study advances a comparative analytical–interpretive framework based on three interrelated theoretical levels: classical geopolitics, rooted in geographical determinism; network geopolitics, which privileges connectivity over territory; and logistical geopolitics, which reconceptualizes infrastructure as a strategic instrument for managing and directing flows.

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Disarmament constitutes a central pillar of international efforts aimed at reducing or eliminating weapons—particularly weapons of mass destruction—in order to promote global peace and security. Its importance is reflected in its potential to curb arms races, foster mutual confidence among states, and redirect national resources toward sustainable development. Nevertheless, disarmament initiatives continue to face significant structural and political challenges. Chief among these are the persistent lack of trust between states, the reluctance of major powers to relinquish their strategic arsenals, and the inadequacy of existing verification and enforcement mechanisms. Moreover, rapid technological advancements and the proliferation of emerging weapons systems have further complicated the disarmament landscape, rendering traditional regulatory frameworks increasingly insufficient. While disarmament can contribute to international stability, its uneven or selective implementation risks generating asymmetries in the balance of power, thereby potentially undermining security rather than enhancing it. Accordingly, the effectiveness of disarmament efforts remains fundamentally dependent on sustained international cooperation and the presence of genuine political will among key global actors.

outlines the fundamental principles upon which international humanitarian law is based, and examines its role in mitigating the devastating consequences of armed conflicts. It further elucidates the legal and political obstacles that hinder the accountability and prosecution of major war criminals. The study arrives at several key findings, most notably that international humanitarian law has only marginally limited the occurrence of war crimes and their destructive impact on civilians, in a manner that remains disproportionate to the scale of violations and the severity of war-inflicted harm. Moreover, the persistence of significant legal loopholes within international legal frameworks, coupled with overriding political considerations, continues to impede the effective prosecution and accountability of perpetrators of war crimes.

This study is grounded in a central strategic problem concerning the Functional relationship between local councils and local governments in Iraq after 2009. The country has faced complex administrative challenges, particularly in enhancing coordination between these bodies. The research problem is crystallized in the following question: What is the functional relationship between local councils and local governments in Iraq after 2009?

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The growing escalation of cyber threats after 2020 indicates a profound transformation in the structure of international security. Cyberspace has increasingly become a domain of conflict that extends beyond the capabilities of conventional military forces and is reshaping fundamental concepts such as sovereignty and deterrence. With the expanding reliance on digital infrastructures, cyber-attacks have become more interconnected and capable of exerting significant influence on critical state institutions, supply chains, and information systems. Moreover, the diversity of actors operating in cyberspace ranging from state to non-state entities—along with the decline in effective international cooperation, has further complicated the attribution of cyber-attacks and the development of effective response frameworks. This transformation reflects a shift in power toward actors capable of managing cyber risks, establishing effective governance mechanisms, and enhancing cyber resilience. Consequently, cyber security has emerged as a central pillar in the reconfiguration of power balances and strategic interactions within the contemporary international system.

This study examines the structural crisis of armed conflict and its impact on political stability in Sudan. Using a qualitative-historical methodology, the research aims to analyze the deep-rooted cycle of conflicts that has undermined the state since its independence. The study finds that the current conflict is an inevitable result of the failure of the state-building project and the dominance of a military-security structure, and that the 2023 war has led to a comprehensive collapse of the state and its institutions. It concludes that a military solution is impossible and that the only way forward lies in a comprehensive, civilian-led political process to rebuild the state on new foundations.