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Iraq, Turkey and Iran have all historically opposed an independent Kurdistan. This is because the Kurdish quest for an independent Kurdistan is a threat to Arab, Turkish and Persian nationalism and their national security. I have therefore formulated the following question to gain a deeper understanding of the subject: How can the realist perspective and the balance of threat theory explain the opposition of Iraq, Turkey and Iran for an independent Kurdistan in northern Iraq? The goal of this essay has been to answer the above question using the realist perspective and the balance of threat theory. This has been done using a case study design to study each of the countries' opposition to an independent Kurdistan. The results show that realism and the balance of threat theory can explain the opposition of Iraq, Turkey and Iran for an independent Kurdistan in northern Iraq. Kurdistan's aggregate power, geographic proximity, offensive capabilities and perceived intentions are factors that worry the three countries if Kurdistan were to declare independence today. This can be explained by the fact that these factors can be seen as a threat to the countries' security and their position of power in the region.

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This thesis aims to consider the competing visions of Sasanian Iran advanced by Arthur Christensen in ‘L'Iran sous les Sassanides' (1944) and Parvaneh Pourshariati in ‘Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire' (2008), discuss the relevant evidence in relation to their arguments, and to suggest our own theory of how the Sasanian Empire operated. Christensen argued for the strength of the Sasanian monarchy and the subservience of the aristocracy to the kings, whilst Pourshariati's thesis stressed Sasanian royal weakness and the relative power of the aristocracy. These theses are incompatible, offering fundamentally different conceptions of the natures of the Sasanian monarchy and aristocracy, and how they interacted with each other. Firstly, this thesis critiques the models established by Christensen and Pourshariati, especially their failure to acknowledge evidence at variance with their thesis, and their lack of discussion concerning how the aristocracy perceived their relationship with the monarchy. We then turn to our own discussion of the evidence relating to the Sasanian monarchy and royal power, and the cultural outlook of the aristocracy, with reference to the above theories, so as to understand how strong the Sasanian monarchy was, the nature of royal power, and how the aristocracy perceived their relationship with the crown. We argue for a conception of Sasanian Iran somewhere between the theories of Christensen and Pourshariati. There is very little evidence that the Sasanian kings ruled through a state enjoying significant institutional power; indeed Sasanian power seems very limited in the periphery of the Empire. However, the inherent respect for the monarchy held by the aristocracy, and the ties of mutual dependence which existed between kings and aristocrats, allowed for Sasanian rule to in general be highly effective.

Typescript (Photocopy) / Bibliography: leaves 424-443 / 2 v. (xvi, 528 p.) : ill., maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Architecture and Planning, 1990

This study examines the decision making process in Washington which led to the current non-existence of political and economic relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States. The study examines the U.S.-Iran relationship at three levels-of-analysis: the individual, state, and system levels. From a geopolitical perspective, Iran and the United States have often been natural allies that pursued similar policy goals. After 9/11, the U.S. entered Afghanistan and Iraq which further necessitated the reengagement of Tehran. Iranian regional clout would play a vital role in stabilization of Iraq and Afghanistan and without Iran's assistance; peace will not likely be realized in those states. Amongst the most compelling reasons for Washington to engage in meaningful dialogue with Tehran are: terrorism, the war on drugs, the Iranian sponsorship of militant groups, and Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear program. The study concludes that rapprochement should occur in two phases. The first being cooperation in areas of mutual concern such as the war on drugs. The second phase promoting confidence building methods, which would lead to a strategic partnership based on mutual interests.

This study is an examination and comparison of the manner in which Nigeria, Iran and Libya used oil revenue for their economic development. The research methodology was the case study approach, utilizing statistical time series data, as well as a historical profile of each country's income and expenditure accounts. As a prelude to the oil injection, the pre-oil revenue economy, the history of the oil industry, and the previously implemented development plans of each of these nations is surveyed. The impact of the oil revenues on the standard of living and the non-oil sectors of these economies is examined. The paper concludes with projections concerning each country's ability to continue to promote economic development when its exhaustible oil reserves runs out.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Cette thèse présente les résultats d'une étude du Haut Zagros, la partie la plus interne du Zagros plissé. Sur les cartes, le Haut Zagros est présent dans deux régions séparées l'une de l'autre, le Haut Zagros Occidental et Oriental respectivement, et partiellement masqué comme un domaine sous-plaqué sous la Zone de Sanandaj-Sirjan. Le Haut Zagros est l'unique endroit du Zagros où les roches paléozoïques affleurent largement.Un premier objectif était de réévaluer le style tectonique et l'évolution cinématique du Haut Zagros. Il est montré que la caractéristique structurale principale de cette zone est l'existence de plis de décollement faillés, associés à un réseau complexe de chevauchements et de failles décrochantes. Ce travail suggère que l'existence de niveaux de décollement au sein des couches ordoviciennes et/ou silurienne a permis le développement de duplex aux cœurs des anticlinaux. Un scénario tectonique en deux étapes, identique à celui proposé ailleurs dans la chaîne, est mis en avant. Une première phase en tectonique de couverture a permis la formation d'un train de plis de décollement au dessus du sel précambrien d'Hormuz. Le socle est impliqué dans la déformation dans un second tempspermettant l'exhumation des roches du Paléozoïque Inférieur. Après cette présentation du contexte tectonique du Haut Zagros, la thèse se concentre sur la signification tectonique de la discordance pré-permienne dont la manifestation la plus évidente est l'existence d'un très important hiatus sédimentaire allant du Cambro-Ordovicien au Permien dans le Zagros Occidental et du Dévonien terminal au Permien dans le Zagros Oriental. Il est montré que : (1) le Haut Zagros présente sous la discordance une géométrie générale en Arche et Bassin et que (2) seules des structures extensives comme des failles normales et des blocs basculés sont présentes sous la discordance, sans aucune trace de structures compressives. Un soulèvement thermique d'âge possible fini-dévonien est proposé comme mécanisme expliquant à la fois le mouvement vertical et l'extension diffuse. Cette hypothèse modifie considérablement l'interprétation classique associant le hiatus pré-permien à un effet lointain de l'orogenèse varisque.Des modélisations thermiques basées sur des données de maturité de la matière organique provenant des roches-mères potentielles du Haut Zagros ont été réalisé. Le modèle le plus probable suggère un flux de chaleur important pendant le Dévonien et l'érosion de ~3900m de sédiments avant le dépôt du Permien. Ce résultat est en accord avec l'hypothèse d'un soulèvement thermique évoqué plus haut. Par ailleurs, des mesures d'âges (U-Th)/He sur zircon montrent une remise à zéro partielle. Ces deux gammes de résultats sont en accord avec les données publiées suggérant l'existence d'un événement thermo-mécanique majeur au cours du Dévonien terminal et du Carbonifère Inférieur dans l'Arche du Levant (Israël, Jordanie). Un mécanisme commun est suggéré à l'échelle de la Plaque Arabe. / This Thesis presents the results of a study of the “High Zagros”, the most internal part of the Zagros-Fold-Thrust-Belt (ZFTB). On map view, the High Zagros is exposed in two separated domains (Western and Eastern High Zagros respectively) and partly hidden as an under-plated region beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan Domain. The High Zagros is the only place in the ZFTB where the Paleozoic rocks are widely exposed.A primary objective was to reevaluate the structural style and kinematic evolution of the High Zagros. It is shown that the most significant geological elements within this area are large scale faulted detachment folds, associated with a complex system of thrust faults segmented by strike-slip faults. This work suggests that the existence of active Ordovician and/or Silurian décollements led to the development of duplex structures which are confined in the core of the anticlines. A two-step kinematic scenario, similar to the one already proposed elsewhere in the belt, is proposed for the High Zagros. Firstly, a thin-skinned phase led to establish detachment folding over the basal Hormuz salt. Then, a thick-skinned phase resulted in the basement thrusting and allowed the exhumation of Lower Paleozoic succession.After this presentation of the tectonic context of the High Zagros, the thesis focuses on the tectonic significance of the pre-Permian unconformity, which was known through a major hiatus between Cambro-Ordovicien to Early Permian and between Devonian to Permian rocks in the western and eastern High Zagros respectively. It is shown that (1) the High Zagros presents below the unconformity a large “Arch-and-Basin” geometry; and that (2) only extensional features such as normal faults and rotated blocks, without evidence of contractional deformation, can be observed below the unconformity. Thermal uplift of possible Late Devonian is proposed as a probable mechanism explaining both the uplift and the diffuse extensional deformation. This proposal strongly modifies the “classical” interpretation of the pre-Permian hiatus as a far effect of the Variscan Orogeny.Thermal modeling based on maturity data from potential source rocks cropping out in the High Zagros has been performed. The most probable modeled scenario suggests an important heat flow during the Devonian and the erosion of ~3900m of the sedimentary pile prior to the deposition of Permian sequence. This outcome reinforces our interpretation of a thermal uplift scenario responsible for pre-Permian vertical movements. On the other hand, a set of new (U-Th)/He ages obtained from the Lower Paleozoic, Devonian and early Permian clastic rocks show a partial reset of zircon grains. These two results are fairly consistent with the published data describing a major thermo-tectonic event during Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous in the Levant Arch (Israel, Jordan) and suggest a common mechanism at the scale of the Arabian Plate.

Les sociétés musulmanes se sont engagées dans un processus de sécularisation qui reste encore mal assumé ou mal reconnu. Cette thèse s'attache à étudier comment les penseurs musulmans contemporains trouvent ou élaborent des systèmes de pensée qui permettent de penser cette sécularisation. La séparation du politique et du religieux reste encore ancrée dans un dogmatisme religieux que les auteurs présentés tentent d'abattre à travers divers stratagèmes intellectuels. La typologie mise en place dans ce sens permet de mieux cerner les différentes approches : historique, littéraire, épistémologique et rationnelle. Des thèmes sont ensuite abordés qui présentent de véritables enjeux pour la sécularisation et qui en sont une rude mise à l'épreuve. L'Iran et la Turquie sont les deux modèles pratiques choisis afin d'interroger ce processus de sécularisation au sein des sociétés musulmanes / The Muslim societies got involved in a process of secularization which remains still badly taken or badly acknowledged. This thesis sets out to be studying how the contemporary Muslim thinkers find or work out systems of thought which allow to think of this secularization.Separation of policy and religion still anchored in a religious dogmatism which the introduced authors try to slaughter across various intellectual stratagems. Typography set up in this sense allows to surround different approaches : historical, literary, epistemology and rationnel.Topics are then approached which introduce true stakes for secularization and which are a hard bet in test. Iran and Turkey are both practical models chosen to question this process of secularization within the Muslim societies.