Challenges to the Post-2003 Political Order in Iraq
What does the Iraqi political landscape look like? How have Iraqi citizens and politicians managed the post-ISIS era? What kind of challenges and opportunities does Iraq face in the coming years?
16 years after the U.S occupation and almost two years after the declared victory over the Islamic State terrorist group, Iraq is in some ways on a positive trajectory. The first elections in five years were held in May 2018 and the ethno-sectarian divisions that have dominated Iraq are being challenged by new forms of cooperation and political bargaining. These opportunities notwithstanding many challenges remain. Most importantly, the legitimacy of the political class and its ability to govern is put in question by the citizenry.
In his UI Paper; Challenges to the post-2003 political order in Iraq, dr. Renad Mansour, of Chatham House, discusses these domestic political trends and the nature of potentially new societal and political fault lines in Iraq.
Speakers:
Renad Mansour, Research Fellow, the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.
Joel Ahlberg, Specialist in Dialogue and Peace Mediation with long working experience related to Iraq, Folke Bernadotte Academy
Ashi al-Kahwati, Analyst, the Middle East and North Africa Programme, UI.
The seminar was moderated by Rouzbeh Parsi, Head of UI's Middle East and North Africa Programme.