Political modernization is a transformative process involving the transition from traditional structures based on personal and tribal relations toward modern, institutionalized political systems based on political participation and the rule of law. Since the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq in 1991, the Kurdistan Region has developed political and administrative institutions; however, it still faces structural obstacles to achieving political modernization. This study aims to explain the role of political conflicts in limiting political modernization in Iraqi Kurdistan by examining two levels of conflict: center–periphery tensions between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Region, and intra-party competition among Kurdish political forces. The main question is how political conflicts have affected the process of political modernization in Iraqi Kurdistan. The hypothesis argues that continued conflicts between the central government and the Kurdistan Region, along with competition among Kurdish parties, have weakened independent institutions, reproduced traditional networks of loyalty, and reinforced personalized and tribal patterns of power, thereby hindering the development of modern political institutions. Using the theoretical framework of political modernization and a qualitative analytical approach, this study examines political developments in Iraqi Kurdistan from 1991 to 2023. The findings indicate that despite progress in establishing formal institutions and expanding political participation, persistent party competition, weak institutional independence, and traditional power structures have prevented the full transition toward a modern and institutionalized political system