Tayyar.

IQ flag Iraq party

Kurdistan Democratic Party

الحزب الديمقراطي الكردستاني

Iraqi Kurdish nationalist party led by the Barzani family. Dominant force in Erbil-based Kurdistan Regional Government.

Family
nationalist ethnic
Standing
Coalition (major)
Review
Verified
Founded
1946
Current leader
Masoud Barzani (President of KDP)
Founders
Mustafa Barzani

Position — compass as of 2026-06-10

Economic
+4.0 market-leaning
Social
-3.0 authority-leaning
Quadrant
authoritarian market

First-pass hand-coded estimate; pending second-pass external review. See methodology for the rubric.

In Iraq
-10 -10 -5 -5 5 5 10 10 Libertarian · Statist Libertarian · Market Authority · Statist Authority · Market 2 parties 3 parties islamist-shia centroid · 2 parties ← Statist Market → Libertarian ↑ ↓ Authority Social ↕ Economic ↔ Kurdistan Democratic Party (IQ) · in government · Economic +4.0, Social -3.0 IQ Kurdistan Democratic Party National Wisdom Movement (IQ) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -4.0 IQ National Wisdom Movement State of Law Coalition (IQ) · in government · Economic -3.5, Social -6.0 IQ State of Law Coalition Sairoon Alliance (IQ) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 IQ Sairoon Alliance Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IQ) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -2.0 IQ Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
In the region · 83
-10 -10 -5 -5 5 5 10 10 Libertarian · Statist Libertarian · Market Authority · Statist Authority · Market 23 parties 11 parties 19 parties 30 parties secular-liberal centroid · 12 parties religious-jewish centroid · 5 parties leftist-socdem centroid · 9 parties islamist-sunni-electoral centroid · 13 parties nationalist-arab centroid · 14 parties leftist-communist centroid · 12 parties nationalist-ethnic centroid · 5 parties islamist-shia centroid · 5 parties religious-christian centroid · 3 parties islamist-militant centroid · 3 parties islamist-salafi centroid · 2 parties ← Statist Market → Libertarian ↑ ↓ Authority Social ↕ Economic ↔ New Wafd Party (EG) · Economic +5.0, Social +3.0 New Wafd Party Religious Zionism Party (IL) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -8.0 Religious Zionism Party Shas (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.5 Shas Socialist Forces Front (DZ) · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Socialist Forces Front Socialist Union of Popular Forces (MA) · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Socialist Union of Popular Forces New Hope (IL) · in government · Economic +5.5, Social +2.0 New Hope Noam (IL) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -9.0 Noam Ennahda (TN) · Economic +2.0, Social -5.0 Ennahda Southern Transitional Council (YE) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -2.0 Southern Transitional Council Sudanese Communist Party (SD) · Economic -8.0, Social +6.0 Sudanese Communist Party Syrian National Coalition (SY) · Economic +5.0, Social +1.0 Syrian National Coalition Ta'al (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +4.0 Ta'al Yisrael Beiteinu (IL) · Economic +6.0, Social +4.0 Yisrael Beiteinu National Unity (IL) · Economic +3.0, Social +4.0 National Unity Free Egyptians Party (EG) · Economic +8.0, Social +5.5 Free Egyptians Party Meretz (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +6.0 Meretz The Democrats (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social +8.0 The Democrats Tunisian Workers Party (TN) · Economic -9.0, Social +5.0 Tunisian Workers Party Workers' Party (DZ) · Economic -9.0, Social +3.5 Workers' Party Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) (YE) · in government · Economic +2.5, Social -7.0 Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) Yemeni Socialist Party (YE) · Economic -6.0, Social +5.0 Yemeni Socialist Party People's Movement (TN) · Economic -6.0, Social +1.0 People's Movement Amal Movement (LB) · in government · Economic -3.5, Social -6.0 Amal Movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) (YE) · in government · Economic -6.0, Social -8.0 Ansar Allah (Houthis) Ba'ath Party (Syria) (SY) · dissolved · Economic -6.5, Social -0.5 Ba'ath Party (Syria) Balad (IL) · Economic -4.0, Social +5.0 Balad Democratic Unionist Party (SD) · Economic +2.5, Social -4.0 Democratic Unionist Party El Insaf (Equity Party) (MR) · in government · Economic +2.8, Social -6.0 El Insaf (Equity Party) Fatah (PS) · in government · Economic +1.5, Social -1.5 Fatah Free Patriotic Movement (LB) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -2.0 Free Patriotic Movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (SY) · in government · Economic +2.5, Social -8.0 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamic Salvation Front (DZ) · outlawed · Economic -3.0, Social -9.0 Islamic Salvation Front Israeli Labor Party (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +5.8 Israeli Labor Party Movement of Society for Peace (DZ) · Economic +0.0, Social -7.0 Movement of Society for Peace Justice and Construction Party (LY) · Economic +0.0, Social -6.5 Justice and Construction Party Authenticity and Modernity Party (MA) · in government · Economic +5.0, Social +4.0 Authenticity and Modernity Party Istiqlal Party (MA) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -4.0 Istiqlal Party Kataeb Party (LB) · Economic +5.0, Social -1.5 Kataeb Party National Umma Party (SD) · Economic +2.0, Social -3.0 National Umma Party Hadash-Ta'al (IL) · Economic -6.0, Social +6.0 Hadash-Ta'al Justice and Development Party (MA) · Economic +3.0, Social -6.0 Justice and Development Party Hamas (PS) · in government · Economic -3.0, Social -8.0 Hamas Kurdistan Democratic Party (IQ) · in government · Economic +4.0, Social -3.0 Kurdistan Democratic Party Likud (IL) · in government · Economic +6.0, Social -2.0 Likud National Liberation Front (DZ) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -3.0 National Liberation Front National Rally for Reform and Development (Tewassoul) (MR) · Economic -1.0, Social -8.0 National Rally for Reform and Development (Tewassoul) Long Live Tunisia (TN) · Economic +6.0, Social +4.0 Long Live Tunisia National Rally of Independents (MA) · in government · Economic +8.0, Social +3.0 National Rally of Independents National Forces Alliance (LY) · Economic +6.0, Social +3.0 National Forces Alliance National Wisdom Movement (IQ) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -4.0 National Wisdom Movement Reform Party (JO) · Economic +2.5, Social -2.0 Reform Party Otzma Yehudit (IL) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -8.0 Otzma Yehudit Mubadara (PS) · Economic -0.5, Social +4.5 Mubadara Northern Islamic Movement (IL) · outlawed · Economic -3.0, Social -7.0 Northern Islamic Movement Freedom and Justice Party (EG) · dissolved · Economic +2.0, Social -7.5 Freedom and Justice Party Islamic Action Front (JO) · Economic -1.0, Social -8.0 Islamic Action Front Al-Menbar Islamic Society (BH) · Economic +3.0, Social -7.5 Al-Menbar Islamic Society Hezbollah (LB) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.0 Hezbollah Jordanian Communist Party (JO) · Economic -9.0, Social +5.5 Jordanian Communist Party Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society (BH) · dissolved · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society State of Law Coalition (IQ) · in government · Economic -3.5, Social -6.0 State of Law Coalition Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PS) · Economic -4.0, Social -9.0 Palestinian Islamic Jihad Nour Party (EG) · Economic +2.5, Social -9.0 Nour Party Islamic Asalah Society (BH) · in government · Economic +3.0, Social -9.0 Islamic Asalah Society United Torah Judaism (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -9.0 United Torah Judaism Lebanese Forces (LB) · Economic +5.0, Social -1.0 Lebanese Forces Mostaqbal Watan (EG) · in government · Economic +3.0, Social -4.0 Mostaqbal Watan Sairoon Alliance (IQ) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Sairoon Alliance Democratic National Rally (DZ) · in government · Economic -2.0, Social -4.0 Democratic National Rally National Charter Party (JO) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -3.0 National Charter Party General People's Congress (YE) · Economic -2.0, Social -4.0 General People's Congress Free Destourian Party (TN) · Economic +1.0, Social -1.0 Free Destourian Party PFLP (PS) · Economic -9.0, Social +4.0 PFLP Tagammu Party (EG) · Economic -7.0, Social +4.0 Tagammu Party Hadash (IL) · Economic -8.0, Social +6.5 Hadash Union of Forces of Progress (MR) · Economic -5.5, Social +4.0 Union of Forces of Progress DFLP (PS) · Economic -8.0, Social +4.5 DFLP Egyptian Social Democratic Party (EG) · Economic -2.5, Social +5.0 Egyptian Social Democratic Party Palestinian People's Party (PS) · Economic -8.0, Social +5.0 Palestinian People's Party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IQ) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -2.0 Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Progressive Socialist Party (LB) · in government · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Progressive Socialist Party Ra'am (United Arab List) (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Ra'am (United Arab List) Yesh Atid (IL) · Economic +4.0, Social +7.0 Yesh Atid

Across the dataset

Open full comparison →

Nearest

Closest by average Euclidean distance across all axes.

  1. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan IQ Δ 1.90 vs
  2. Lebanese Forces LB Δ 3.67 vs
  3. Kataeb Party LB Δ 3.91 vs
  4. Southern Transitional Council YE Δ 3.95 vs

Most divergent

Farthest by the same metric. Useful for "anti-axis" framing.

  1. Ansar Allah (Houthis) YE Δ 11.57 vs
  2. Islamic Salvation Front DZ Δ 11.44 vs
  3. Palestinian Islamic Jihad PS Δ 11.42 vs
  4. Tunisian Workers Party TN Δ 11.12 vs

Position — all axes

Economic → Market Social → Libertarian State & religion → Secular state Liberal democracy → Strong commitment West alignment → Pro-Western Regional stance → Stability/normalization Palestinian question → Pro-Palestinian rights Civil liberties → Expand Regime stance → pro-regime Pan-Arab vs particularist → pan-Arab Centralism vs federalism → federalist Traditionalism vs modernization → modernizing Gender equality → Gender equality Iran posture → Pro-Iran / aligned Press freedom → Free press Sectarian power-sharing → Post-sectarian / civic state
Kurdistan Democratic Party Kataeb Party

Comparing against Kataeb Party (LB) Clear

Economic
+4.0
Statist ← → Market
Social
-3.0
Authority ← → Libertarian
State & religion
+4.0
Religious state ← → Secular state
Liberal democracy
-3.5
Weak/anti ← → Strong commitment
West alignment
+8.0
Anti-Western ← → Pro-Western
Regional stance
+5.5
Resistance/maximalist ← → Stability/normalization
Palestinian question
+2.5
Opposed ← → Pro-Palestinian rights
Civil liberties
-3.0
Restrict ← → Expand
Regime stance
+5.5
anti-regime ← → pro-regime
Pan-Arab vs particularist
-9.0
particularist ← → pan-Arab
Centralism vs federalism
+9.5
centralist ← → federalist
Traditionalism vs modernization
+4.0
traditionalist ← → modernizing
Gender equality
—
Patriarchal traditionalism ← → Gender equality
Iran posture
—
Anti-Iran / adversarial ← → Pro-Iran / aligned
Press freedom
—
State-controlled press ← → Free press
Sectarian power-sharing
-6.0
Consociational / quota system ← → Post-sectarian / civic state

Members & affiliated figures

Politicians currently identified with this party — leaders, ministers, MPs, and other active figures. All affiliated politicians →

Recent events

Political events involving this party — formations, mergers, leadership changes, designation shifts. All events at /pulse →

  • Confirmed Election held September 25, 2017

    Kurdish independence referendum

    Iraqi Kurdistan votes 92.7% in favour of independence. Baghdad rejects the result; within weeks, federal forces retake Kirkuk and most disputed territories, ending KRG's post-2003 territorial expansion.

Source documents

Texts the scoring pipeline reads — manifestos, speeches, platforms. Each document's verbatim content backs the position score above; the model cites specific phrases from these texts when scoring. All documents →

Sources

Per-field citations for the verified claims above. Other fields (notably the compass scores) remain hand-coded priors and are marked unverified until they pass the methodology pipeline — see methodology.

How to cite

Each record carries a retrieval date because the dataset is live — individual entries update as verification deepens. Use the per-record citation when referencing this specific profile; use the dataset citation below when referencing the project as a whole.

In-text: (Gara, 2026)

Per-record citation

APA 7Reference list · academic default 
Gara, T. (2026). Kurdistan Democratic Party [Party profile]. Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/kdp
Chicago author-dateCommon in political-science journals 
Gara, Tarek. 2026. "Kurdistan Democratic Party." Party profile, Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset. Accessed June 21, 2026. https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/kdp.
BibTeXFor LaTeX / Zotero / reference managers 
@misc{tayyar-kdp,
  title     = {{Kurdistan Democratic Party}},
  author    = {Gara, Tarek},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset},
  type      = {Party profile},
  url       = {https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/kdp},
  urldate   = {2026-06-21},
  note      = {First-pass entry; second-pass external review planned before publication.}
}

Dataset / working-paper citation

If you're citing Tayyar as a project rather than this individual record.

APA 7Preprint 
Gara, T. (2026). Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset [Preprint]. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/paper
BibTeXPreprint 
@unpublished{tayyar-preprint,
  title  = {{Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset}},
  author = {Gara, Tarek},
  year   = {2026},
  type   = {Preprint},
  url    = {https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/paper},
  urldate = {2026-06-21},
  note   = {Living document, regenerated from the live dataset on page load.}
}

First-pass entry; second-pass external review planned before publication.