Client agency in a multiple patron setting: the case of Iraqi Kurdistan

This paper delves into the dynamics of patron-client relationships within the context of Iraqi Kurdistan, examining how the Kurdish leadership navigates and manages multiple patron relationships. It also examines the 2017 referendum for independence in Kurdistan as a crisis case study, shedding light on its impact on the patron-client relationship between the U.S. and Kurdistan. Employing interviews with policymakers and researchers, complemented by on-the-ground observations, the paper underscores the importance of delving into a client’s perspectives toward its multiple patrons. Extending beyond the specific case of Kurdistan, this paper aspires to make conceptual contributions to the understanding of complex multiple patron settings, with a particular emphasis on elucidating the autonomy exercised by the client in navigating an intricate web of patrons.