Electoral Dynamics in post-2003 Iraq: Systemic Reforms, Security Challenges, and External Influence
Öz
Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq’s political trajectory has been shaped by systemic reforms, security challenges, and external interventions. Parliamentary elections serve as a key measure of Iraq’s democratic governance, revealing persistent issues such as electoral system debates, pre-election violence, political fragmentation, and foreign influence from actors like the US and Iran. Low voter turnout, weak election security, and recurring allegations of fraud have further eroded public trust. The protracted government formation process, driven by sectarian divisions and external meddling, has reinforced political instability. This study examines these patterns by using the process tracing method to provide a comprehensive understanding of Iraq’s electoral landscape and its broader implications for governance. The election process is divided into three timelines and analyzed before, during, and after the elections. Drawing on news and reports on Iraq as well as speeches by Iraqi figures, the study argues that seven patterns embedded in systemic reforms, security challenges, and external interventions have overwhelmed Iraq’s electoral processes and democratic governance since 2003.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Parliamentary Elections, Ali al-Sistani, US, Iran, Election Security
Kaynakça
- Abdo, G. (2018, September 14). Here’s How the Negotiations over the Next Iraq Government Are Going. The National Interest. Retrieved January 2025 from https://nationalinterest.org/feature/heres-how-negotiations-over-next-iraq-government-are-going-31342/
- Abdo, G. (2021, September 23). Iraq’s Elections: Will Boycott Efforts Delegitimize or Entrench Discredited Status Quo? [Report No. 123]. The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Retrieved January 2025 from https://agsiw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Abdo_Iraqi-Elections_ONLINE_Final.pdf
- Abdulhussein, Y. (2014, May 2). The 2014 Iraqi parliamentary elections. Daily Sabah. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/2014/05/02/the-2014-iraqi-parlimentary-electiions
- Al Khafaji, I. (2018, July 12). Iraq 2018 Elections: Between Sectarianism and the Nation. Arab Reform Initiative. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/iraq-2018-elections-between-sectarianism-and-the-nation/
- Ali, A. (2014). Iraq’s 2014 National Elections [Report No. 20]. Institute for the study of War. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/AhmedAliIraqElections.pdf
- Ali, Z. (2018, May 16). Why Iraq’s surprising election doesn’t signal major changes. Washington Post. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/05/16/iraqs-surprising-election-results-do-not-signal-deep-political-change/
- Aljazeera. (2018a, January 29). Political fragmentation and foreign interference set the parameters of Iraqi elections. Retrieved January 2025 from https://studies.aljazeera.net/en/positionpapers/2018/01/political-fragmentation-foreign-interference-set-parameters-iraqi-elections-180129101107624.html
- Aljazeera. (2018b, 21 June). Iraq’s Supreme Court endorses manual recount of votes. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/iraq-supreme-court-endorses-manual-recount-votes-180621082440908.html
- Al-Kadhimi, M. (2014). Sistani welcomes Iraqi politicians. Al-Monitor. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2014/11/iraq-religious-authority-ali-sistani-politics.html
- Al-Monitor. (2018a). Eager to vote, Iraq's displaced faced obstacles on election day. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2018/05/iraq-election-idp-sunni.html
