Reflections of Lockean and Kantian culture in Iraq's policy towards Iran: Rivalry, conflict and friendship (1958-2020)

This study examines the sudden changes in Iraq-Iran relations. The aim of the study is to explain through the example of Iraq-Iran relations that the anarchic structure of the international system does not produce a permanent enmity relationship between states. In this context, the study argues that relations between states are influenced by many factors such as mutual interaction, mutual identity attributions, the structure of the international system, international norms, ideas and identities. In this direction, this study seeks to answer the questions "How did the changes in Iraq-Iran relations take shape?" and "What are the factors that determine the policies of the two countries towards each other?" This search for an answer was made by staying within the concept of "Cultures of Anarchy" of Alexander Wendt, one of the social constructivist in international relations theories. In other words, the concept of cultures of anarchy has been adapted to the relations between the two countries.