9.4 Post-war Iraq: sectarian conflict, reconstruction, and governance challenges

Iraq's post-war era was marked by intense sectarian conflict and political turmoil. The fall of Saddam Hussein's regime unleashed long-suppressed tensions between Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish groups, leading to widespread violence and civil unrest.

Rebuilding Iraq's political system proved challenging. A new constitution was drafted, but power-sharing arrangements often fell short. Corruption, inadequate services, and external influences from the U.S., Iran, and neighboring countries further complicated Iraq's path to stability.

Post-war Iraq: Sectarian Conflict and Political Challenges

Sectarian violence in post-war Iraq

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• Saddam Hussein's regime impacted sectarian tensions through:
  • Sunni-dominated government marginalized Shia and Kurdish populations
  • Brutally suppressed dissent and political opposition (imprisonments, executions)
• De-Baathification process after the 2003 invasion:
  • Removed Baath party members from government positions and security forces
  • Created a power vacuum and exacerbated sectarian divisions
• Insurgency and rise of sectarian militias:
  • Sunni insurgency fought against the U.S.-led coalition and the new Iraqi government
  • Shia militias emerged, some backed by Iran, in response to Sunni violence (Mahdi Army, Badr Organization)
• Sectarian violence and civil conflict:
  • Targeted killings, kidnappings, and bombings between Sunni and Shia groups
  • Civilians displaced and sectarian enclaves formed (Baghdad, Basra)
  • Peak of sectarian violence in 2006-2007 resulted in thousands of civilian casualties

Challenges of political reconstruction

• Drafting of a new constitution:
  • Debated the role of Islam, federalism, and the distribution of power
  • Constitution adopted through a referendum in 2005
• Formation of a new government:
  • Transitional government led by Prime Minister Ayad Allawi
  • Iraqi National Assembly elected in 2005
  • Nouri al-Maliki became Prime Minister in 2006
• Power-sharing arrangements and political representation:
  • Government positions allocated based on sectarian and ethnic quotas
  • Sunnis underrepresented in the new government
• Corruption and lack of basic services:
  • Widespread corruption in government institutions
  • Inadequate provision of electricity, water, and healthcare (frequent power outages, contaminated water)
  • Slow progress in rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the war (roads, bridges, hospitals)

External actors in Iraqi affairs

• U.S.-led coalition and military presence:
  • Overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and established the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA)
  • Trained and supported Iraqi security forces
  • Gradually withdrew U.S. troops, completing the process in 2011
• Iranian influence and support for Shia groups:
  • Iran has historical ties to Iraqi Shia parties and militias
  • Provided funding, weapons, and training to Shia militias (Quds Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)
  • Grew Iranian influence in Iraqi politics and security
• Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states:
  • Concerned over the empowerment of Iraq's Shia majority
  • Supported Sunni politicians and groups in Iraq
  • Sought to counter Iranian influence in the region
• Turkey and the Kurdish question:
  • Turkey concerned over the autonomy of Iraqi Kurds
  • Conducted cross-border military operations against Kurdish militants (PKK)
  • Engaged diplomatically with the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities

Long-term consequences of Iraq War

• Fragmentation of the Iraqi state:
  • Central government authority weakened
  • Semi-autonomous regions emerged, particularly in the Kurdish north (Kurdistan Regional Government)
  • Persistent sectarian divisions and mistrust
• Rise of the Islamic State (ISIS):
  • Exploited Sunni grievances and the security vacuum in Iraq and Syria
  • Captured large swathes of territory in 2014 (Mosul, Raqqa)
  • U.S.-led international coalition formed to combat ISIS
• Regional power dynamics:
  • Increased Iranian influence in Iraq and the region
  • Strained relations between Iraq and its Sunni Arab neighbors (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait)
  • Spillover effects of the conflict on neighboring countries (Syria, Turkey)
• Human cost and displacement:
  • Hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties
  • Millions of internally displaced persons and refugees
  • Long-term impact on mental health, education, and development
• Legacy of the U.S. intervention:
  • Debate over the justification and legality of the war
  • Criticism of post-war planning and reconstruction efforts
  • Impacted U.S. foreign policy and public opinion