Iraq Initiative

The US-Israeli war on Iran has disrupted oil exports, pushed up prices and deepened fears of electricity shortages.

The surprise return of the controversial former leader has revealed that Iraq is still a US–Iran battleground.

Hopes that reform of Iraq’s political system would be possible from within have been dashed by the poor electoral performance of candidates associated with the Tishreen protest movement.

Iraq goes to the polls on 11 November. But with few Iraqis expected to actually vote, the real contest lies in how power will be divided among the elites who dominate the system.

Scarcity of water is not only a national crisis for Iraq, but a growing driver of internal tension.

The region’s balance of power is being violently upended. It will be difficult for Iraq to avoid being drawn into the upheaval.

The sustained backing of reform-minded officials within Iraq, alongside durable support from international stakeholders, will be essential to fostering an environment in which young political and civil society actors and entrepreneurs can work together to overcome systemic barriers to change.

This paper explores how mechanisms nominally designed to deliver democratic and accountable governance in Iraq often fail to do so in practice. It offers a plan to tackle the problem by connecting and mobilizing networks of reformers across state and society.

The latest restrictions are a symptom of increased US-Iran tensions. But as Iraq’s elite find ways around them, ordinary Iraqis are the ultimate victims.

This essay collection explores two decades of state-building in Iraq and the lessons to be learned.

The shadow of this doomed invasion can be seen in the incoherent approach to other conflicts, from Libya to Syria.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani must address politically sanctioned corruption head-on, or he risks falling into the same trap as his predecessors.

This paper explores the ever-shifting identity and political strategy of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and offers a sociological analysis of his voter base.

After supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr storm the Iraqi parliament, a Chatham House survey of residents in Baghdad’s Sadr City gives a rare insight into the actions and motivations of the populist cleric.

Despite their disillusionment with Iraq’s political system, the country’s youth have hope and aspirations for real change.

Short video explainer about how, since 2003, Iraq’s elites have appropriated the country’s rich cultural heritage in the service of various undesirable agendas.

Political and religious elites are increasingly capturing Iraq’s cultural heritage for sectarian and commercial purposes, reducing its role as a public good and further dividing Iraqi society.

A new generation of independent MPs and parties emerging from the protests in Iraq can reform the country’s politics, but only if they work together.

Although the election results appear to show a shift in political support, there is a clear disparity between the popular vote and the allocation of power.

Many Iraqis are disillusioned with their unaccountable political system, which deprives them of basic services and fundamental standards of living.

This paper examines why successive updates to Iraq’s electoral laws have failed to reform the dynamics of government formation.

As Iraqis head to the polls on 10 October, the headline for this election likely will be less about winners and losers and more about low voter turnout.

Congratulations to Dr Renad Mansour for his work on the BBC documentary series Once Upon a Time in Iraq, a winner at the 2021 Emmy Awards.

Hospital fires and electricity cuts have prompted angry protests, and many Iraqis see government corruption and mismanagement as the root of their suffering.

This short video explores the pernicious effects of politically sanctioned corruption on governance in Iraq, and why it is the key barrier to reform.

This paper explores how political parties compete and cooperate for power in formal institutions in the Iraqi state, notably through appointing senior civil servants to do their bidding.

Results from a Chatham House opinion poll suggest ordinary Iraqis’ opinions on federalism are nuanced but that a clear schism with the Kurdistan region remains.

This paper assesses the ongoing constitutional battle over the devolution of powers in Iraq and looks at the possibility of a long-term solution.

Much analysis has been done of the motivations of Iraq’s protesters, but how much support they have in the wider population has largely not been examined.

This briefing guides policymakers, international financial institutions, and development agencies in designing and implementing public sector reform programmes.