Federalism in iraq pdf

Pdf the emergence and application of federalism in iraq under. American federalism is unique because its never had that. Federalism is an important concept for understanding iraqi politics. This paper focuses on the emergence of federalism in iraq before 2003, its adoption and application under the state administration law for the transitional period 2004 and under the constitution of 2005. Therefore, it is valid to argue that defining iraqs federalism will help in redefining iraqi nationalism.

Oil and the question of federalism in iraq international. Democracy in iraq bears the hallmarks of a political system born in foreign occupation and civil war. Iraqi kurdistan at a crossroads alex danilovich university of kurdistan hewler, iraq email. For sunni arabs in central iraq, who had no role in formulating the constitution, the notion of federalism was initially perceived as an americaniranian conspiracy and betrayal of iraq. It is marked with deep divisions over the power of the executive, disputes between ethnic and religious groups, and between centralists and advocates of federalism.

Though the definition of federalism is relatively straightforward, the concept in practice can be. Federalism, selfdetermination and international recognition. Iraq faces major questions about the powersharing agreements between baghdad and iraqs various regions. Vissers excellent historical research has shown that the ottomans redrew the regional boundaries within iraq several times. Otherwise though, federalism only draws attention as it relates to baghdadkurdistan regional government krg relations, 3 oil revenue sharing, 4 or both. The administrative division of lraq into the provinces of mosul, baghdad and basra including kuwait, which many. The application of regional federalism in iraq, weather in the case of kurdistan region or the future formed regions is facing two basic problems. Federalism as one of the three form of government has been considered as a uniting factor. Our focus is on the character of the subunits in any future system, specifically on whether iraq should adopt a. Ethnicity, federalism and the idea of sectarian citizenship in iraq.

How to save iraq this is the best, or the least bad, solution to the current crisis. The second part aims at understanding the breaking of federalism in iraq. Federalism as a check on majority power in iraq as the dpwg noted, protection of minority rights against majority abuse is the essence of a federal democracy. The politics of governance and federalism security council report. Most of them believe that, it could be used as a cover to. Ci tudents ofdemocratization in the middle east have long pondered the relationship berween ethnic diversity and. A study of federalism in iraq from the view of the micro level of. But an accommodation over the federalism question in iraq still seems out of reach. The theoretical case for asymmetrical federalism in iraq should begin with an examination of two main stylized models of federalism. Making federalism work in iraq forum of federations. A senate proposal calling for the restructuring of iraqs government has drawn fire from iraqis who liken it to partition. This will not only hamper the legislative process and effective government in the coming years, but could also threaten stability, particularly along the fragile border that separates the kurdistan region from the rest of iraq.

Apr 10, 2003 federalism as a check on majority power in iraq as the dpwg noted, protection of minority rights against majority abuse is the essence of a federal democracy. Disputes over the management and licensing of the hydrocarbon sector and over revenue distribution have been seen as a battle for power between iraqs ethnic and sectarian communities, as if these were monolithic entities. Article 114 of the constitution of iraq provided that no new region may be created before the iraqi national assembly has passed a law that provides the procedures for forming the region. The puzzle of iraqs 2005 constitution is that it introduced a comingtogether symmetrical model of federalism rather than building on the clear asymmetrical foundation of the kurdish safe haven. Stabilisation, reconstruction and the security regional scenario, arranged by the landau network, como, italy, 2425 november 2006. The second subsection discusses the making of federalism in iraq and focuses on the process and the result of the process, namely the constitution of 2005, which consecrates iraq s federal nature. Thus, iraqs constitution has a range of alternative, potential federal futures embedded within it. It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss how the authors of the constitution envisioned a federal iraq, or to put it more accurately, how competing visions led to the adoption of incoherent and often conflicting provisions within the constitution over how power and authority should be. The first calls for establishing a federal iraqi state appeared at the begging of the nineties of the last century after the iraqi invasion to kuwait and the march apprising where the north part of iraq with its kurd. Oil and the question of federalism in iraq an attempt to sustain this new political and economic framework, us decisionmakers drew on a second strand of the former oppositions agenda, namely the need to reconstruct government in iraq along federal lines. Learning to live together addresses these important questions and focuses on the role of federalism as a viable solution to iraq s many problems and the efforts the kurdish government has deployed to adjust to new federal relations that entail not only gains, but also concessions and compromises.

On september 21, 2011, the inss center for strategic research conducted a conference on the challenges of federalism in iraq. The last american troops left iraq in december 2011, after an occupation that lasted eight years. Decentralization and its discontents in iraq middle east. The idea of a federalist system was initiated by the united states and iraqi opposition groups while planning for a post. The debate on federalism in iraq is interrelated with the identity conflict which has dominated iraqi politics since the regime change in 2003. In fact, the problem is sufciently complex that no mere denition will sufce. Iraq iraq legal education initiative ilei american university of iraq, sulaimani stanford law school kirkuk main road crown quadrangle raparin 559 nathan abbott way sulaimani, iraq stanford, ca 943058610.

After the defeat of the ottoman empire in 1919, iraq became a league of nations mandate under. Iraq is an example, a dramatic example, but there are other examples. This immediately raises a number of the complexities that beset this subject and that mechanistic discussions of it tend to ignore or obscure. Download pdf iraqifederalismandthekurds free online. For most observers, iraqs recent elections were an important first step on the road to democratic normalcy. Will iraqi federalism moderate or deepen the divisions currently plaguing iraqi society. It has been employed in several countries around the world to recognize diversity and manage internal conflict. Since the invasion by usled troops in 2003, the country has experienced intense civil violence. Plan and ethnic realities in iraq democracy in iraq after uprooting saddam hussein from power, establishing democracy in iraq has been proclaimed among the most important objectives of the u. Therefore, it is valid to argue that defining iraq s federalism will help in redefining iraqi nationalism.

Pdf on 28 november 2016 this iraqrelated article is a stub. However, three related outcomesthe political marginalization of sunni arabs, the electoral gains made by shia religious parties, and the triumphant performance of the kurdsrender the task of crafting iraqs permanent constitution significantly more problematic. It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss how the authors of the constitution envisioned a federal iraq, or to put it more accurately, how competing visions led to the adoption of incoherent. Federalism in iraq posted by michael signer a long time ago, i posted here on leslie gelbs thoughtful and thoughtprovoking proposal for a threestate iraq, where kurdish, shiite, and sunni statesregions would be incorporated into a federalist system with a strong, but constrained, federal government as in the u. The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of federalism in iraq under constitution of 2005. However, while federalism rarely lends itself to meaningful discussion. Being a country of many races, ethnic groups and religious factions, iraq, has adopted federalism as its governmental form based on article 4 of the provisional constitution and article one of the permanent constitution for the post a saddam era.

The second subsection discusses the making of federalism in iraq and focuses on the process and the result of the process, namely the constitution of 2005, which consecrates iraqs federal nature. In order to discuss federalism at a theoretical level at least, it is necessary to dene it. Federalism in iraq posted by michael signer a long time ago, i posted here on leslie gelbs thoughtful and thoughtprovoking proposal for a threestate iraq, where kurdish, shiite, and sunni statesregions would be incorporated into a federalist system with a strong, but constrained, federal government as in. Learning to live together addresses these important questions and focuses on the role of federalism as a viable solution to iraqs many problems and the efforts the kurdish government has deployed to adjust to new federal relations that entail not only gains, but also concessions and compromises. Download iraqifederalismandthekurds ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub. Iraq has struggled with the concept of federalism ever since it was enshrined in the 2005 constitution. Iraq, the concept of federalism significantly impacts nearly every decision made by the kurdish regional government krg and the daily lives of iraqi citizens living in kurdistan.

This is despite recurrent scepticism about its desirability and appropriateness in a globalising world. Thus, the constitution can be amended via a rather simple procedure, except for the fundamental constitutional provisions, including the federal principle. The federal government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as numerous independent commissions. Challenges for postwar iraq a thesis presented to the faculty of the department of geography and geology western kentucky university bowling green, kentucky in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of science by paul greg lockhart december 2014. Learning to live together addresses these important questions and focuses on the role of federalism as a viable solution to iraqs many problems and the efforts the kurdish government has deployed to adjust to new federal relations that entail not only. The puzzle of federalism in lraq eric davis reidar visser and gareth stansfield, eds. The implications of elections for federalism in iraq. Given the kurdish leaderships decision on a referendum, federalism may be an answer for arab iraq, but to. October 21, 2011 by denise natali executive summary. Download as pdf abstract the introduction of federalism in iraq was meant to address the lingering ethnic conflict between kurds and arabs and prevent an imminent breakup of the country. Many islamist and nationalist believe that federalism in iraq is an introduction towards division suspicions may be raised for the kurds ambition to establish their independent kurdistan though they present their support to a unified iraq and to adopt the constitution that accommodates their claims. Iraq s current predicament and the threat of disintegration convince many policymakers as well as academic that a new iraqi state firmly based on the principles of federalism can rejuvenate the. Oil and the question of federalism in iraq alkadiri 2010. Mar 14, 2012 the last american troops left iraq in december 2011, after an occupation that lasted eight years.

The 2005 constitution describes iraq as a federal state and the very word. Pdf for most observers, iraqs recent elections were an important first step on the road to democratic normalcy. Federalism, selfdetermination and international recognition regime. Without this form of federalism, an iraq rife with internal conflict and dominated. After the fall of political regime in 2003, iraq adopted federalism under the constitution of 2005. The conflict of identity and federalism in iraq perspectives on. Notwithstanding these controversies, federalism was introduced in iraq to stay, as solid safeguards were built in to protect the federal system. Reidar visser, norwegian institute of international affairs. Pdf application of federalism in iraq from the legal. Pdf this paper focuses on the emergence of federalism in iraq before 2003, its adoption and application under the state administration law. Iraq faces major questions about the powersharing agreements between baghdad and iraq s various regions.

It may be the sudans, the sri lankas and the iraqs that prove to be the cradles of federalism in the 21st century. The oil question in iraq has traditionally been viewed almost exclusively through the prism of ethnosectarianism. Pdf the implications of elections for federalism in iraq. Oil and the question of federalism in iraq alkadiri. The 2005 constitution of iraq defines iraq for the first time as a federal country. This thought too can be traced back to the time of the founding of the u. In iraq of the post saddam era, the form of government has been changed to a federal and decentralized one. Federalism from below in iraq basra and southern iraq. Otherwise though, federalism only draws attention as it relates to baghdadkurdistan regional government krg relations, 3 oil revenue sharing, 4 or bo. A study of federalism in iraq from the view of the micro. The federal government of iraq is defined under the current constitution, approved in 2005, as an islamic, democratic, federal parliamentary republic. Federalism, then, appeals to a country or an international order that is struggling with ethnocultural conflict, separatist movements and terrorism. Pdf the emergence and application of federalism in iraq.

Introduction to the laws of kurdistan, iraq working paper. The purpose was to move beyond the ethnic and sectarian lens and examine the implications of federalism on governance, economic development. Ethnicity, federalism and the idea of sectarian citizenship. Though the definition of federalism is relatively straightforward, the concept in practice can be quite complex. Federalism could save iraq from falling apart due to civil. Federalism was supposed to offer the kurds a form of local selfdetermination by setting up a bulwark against the arab policy of assimilation and othercontinue reading. The emergence and application of federalism in iraq under the constitution of 2005 article pdf available june 2017 with 510 reads how we measure reads. In this paper, we examine the implications of these election results for the design of iraqs federal system. The concept of federalism in iraq is recently discussed. The emergence and application of federalism in iraq under the constitution of 2005. Iraqs current predicament and the threat of disintegration convince many policymakers as well as academic that a new iraqi state firmly based on the principles of federalism can rejuvenate the. In iraq the issue of decentralization tends to kick up a flurry of activity and discussion whenever law 21 1 is amended 2 or a governor attempts to create a new region. This is mainly a power conflict, as breuilly describes the formation of nationalism 1993.