Iraq - A Decade of New Governance

Iraq - A Decade of New Governance

Author: Cambridge University

2013 marks the ten year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by US and UK forces, the swift and catastrophic collapse of Saddam Husseins Baathist regime, and the beginning of a period of occupation and radical societal change. On 16th October 2003, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511 unanimously sanctioned a long-term international presence in Iraq effectively handing control of the country to Washington. This landmark date acts as the anchor of post- conflict governance in Iraq. The latter years of the past decade have seen the fledgling post-Baathist Iraq situated in an increasingly fragile landscape. The centralisation of power by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, including his increasing influence over the Ministries of Defence and Interior, the integrity and electoral commissions, the central bank, and the judiciary, was challenged by a seemingly cross- ethnic and cross-communal alliance that included the Kurdistan Alliance, led by Masoud Barzani, al-Ahrar (Sadrists), led by Muqtada al-Sadr, and al-Iraqiya, led by Ayad Allawi. The April 2013 provincial elections proved that the PMs consolidation of power and attempt to create an external Sunni, intra-Shii, and Kurdish threat was not impenetrable, as his State of Law Coalition did not gain as many seats as expected, particularly among its Shii base. 10 years on, Iraqis are still faced with a security dilemma. According to the Iraqi government, May 2013 accounted for 630 civilian deaths caused by insurgents the highest since April 2008. In addition, the government appears unable to meet the needs of its citizenry a Gallup poll suggests increasing dissatisfaction with government services (security, electricity, health, water, employment, and education), from 50% in 2010 to 64% in 2012. While the militarized sectarianism that engulfed Iraq in a civil war from 2006-2008 is no longer a factor, the Iraqi polity is still marred by divisions. This conference seeks to address a number of core issues, including t
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