The Struggle for Iraq’s Future
How Corruption, Incompetence and Sectarianism Have Undermined Democracy
Since the withdrawal of US occupying forces, international attention has shifted away from Iraq - but life for Iraqis has become no easier. Deadly bombings are still all too common, sectarian violence has soared and all-pervading corruption means that massive inflows of aid and oil income have made very little difference to crucial issues like security, healthcare and power availability. Now, Iraqi lawyer Zaid al-Ali sets out why and how the post-occupation Iraqi government has failed to achieve legitimacy or improve its citizens' lives. He argues that the ill-planned US intervention destroyed the Iraqi state, creating a black hole which corrupt and incompetent members of the elite have now made their own.
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ARTICLE: Can a new government solve the protests in Iraq?
September 27, 2018
THE WASHINGTON POST: Summer protests have become a yearly ritual for Iraq, but the past few weeks were particularly intense. In Basra, young people came out in the thousands to protest declining standards of living. Protesters set government buildings, …
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INTERVIEW: Could Iraq’s election be a turning point for the country?
May 18, 2018
AL-JAZEERA INTERNATIONAL: The preliminary results are in but it could take weeks before official winners are announced in Iraq’s parliamentary elections. That delay has some political leaders claiming fraud and urging the Election Commission to have a …
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INTERVIEW: Shock election results in Iraq
May 18, 2018
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: Iraq recently held its first parliamentary election since the defeat of Islamic State on its territory. Seasoned observers expected the incumbent Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, who is favoured by the US, to win …
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ARTICLE: Why Iraq’s surprising election doesn’t signal major changes
May 18, 2018
THE WASHINGTON POST: Preliminary results for Iraq’s recent round of elections are in, and keeping with previous years, there are many surprises. Contradicting most polling data and analysts’ predictions, incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s allia …
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INTERVIEW: Iraqi Shiite cleric takes surprise lead in Iraq’s parliamentary elections
May 15, 2018
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: A Shia nationalist cleric in Iraq who led two uprisings against American troops has taken a surprise lead in parliamentary elections results. Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr appears to have tapped into public resentme …
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ARTICLE: What to expect from Iraq’s election?
May 15, 2018
ALJAZEERA ENGLISH: This week’s elections in Iraq are unlikely to produce any earth-shattering results. There is far more electoral competition between parties in Iraq than most other countries in the region, including Lebanon where voters this week ret …
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