The Command Post - Op-Ed - How To Build A Democratic Iraq

April 27, 2003

How To Build A Democratic Iraq

The May/June 2003 issue of Foreign Affairs magazine offers an interesting perspective on the opportunity for democracy in Iraq. Authored by Adeed Dawisha & Karen Dawisha (professors of Political Science at Miami University, Ohio), the piece is lengthy but well worth the read. A highlight:

In the aftermath of the war, the occupiers will focus on immediate tasks, such as ensuring order, providing relief to the long-suffering Iraqi people, and asserting control over the country. Very quickly, however -- even before they have met these goals -- the victorious powers will have to answer another pressing question: How, exactly, should they go about rebuilding the country? Saying simply that postwar Iraq should be democratic will be the easy part. Just about everyone agrees on that, and indeed, for many this end will justify the entire operation. The more difficult question will be how to make it happen.

Fortunately, the job of building democracy in Iraq, although difficult, may not be quite as hard as many critics of the war have warned. Iraq today possesses several features that will facilitate the reconstruction effort. Despite Saddam's long repression, democratic institutions are not entirely alien to the country. Under the Hashemite monarchy, which ruled from 1921 until 1958, Iraq adopted a parliamentary system modeled on that of its colonial master, the United Kingdom. Political parties existed, even in the opposition, and dissent and disagreement were generally tolerated. Debates in parliament were often vigorous, and legislators were usually allowed to argue and vote against the government without fear of retribution. Although the palace and the cabinet set the agenda, parliament often managed to influence policy. And this pluralism extended to Iraq's press: prior to the 1958 revolution that toppled the monarchy, 23 independent newspapers were published in Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra alone.

Read the whole thing ...

Posted By Alan at April 27, 2003 09:51 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Good article. Don't agree with all points but some -

"To begin with, it would be a mistake to create only three ethnically or religiously based federal units: a Kurdish north, a Shi`ite south, and a Sunni center. Such a structure would only entrench current divisions and might even lead to ethnic cleansing. A far better idea would be to maintain Iraq's present administrative structure, under which the country is divided into 18 units."

Posted by: John Anderson at April 27, 2003 03:02 PM

There are two immediate messages that need to be made clear to the Iraqi people, most of whom are too young to recall the days of freedom: being free (and/or democratic):

1) Freedom is not an easy thing to get or to maintain. It can only thrive in a vigilant and concerned society. This is a hard thing to do.

2) The greatest, and most pertinant to you, aspect of freedom/democracy is that there will never be fear of your governors, if the freedom is real. Imagine that... No fear of speaking out against governmental policy. No fear of a relative disappearing into the night forever. You will be a part of your government. You will no longer be cowed by threats of torture, imprisonment, or death. You need not be afraid any more.

This is what you are offered now.

Posted by: Kabar at April 27, 2003 07:26 PM

Yeah....if the imported opposition and the uninformed paranoids will shut up long enough to listen, they could probably shave alot of time off building a democratic govt. It's like anytime there is an issue, there is 50,000 of the savages screaming uncontrollably. How in the hell do you communicate with these people? Maybe set up some big screens and sound systems throughout Bagdad and speak to them that way.

I had a girlfriend one time, for a couple of days, that behaved like that. They just start runnin their mouth and shut off their brain. Hey...maybe if they just 'bitch slap' some of those Iraqis..........:)

Posted by: Jeff B at April 27, 2003 08:06 PM

The only way this will work in Iraq will be to avoid, at all costs, forming a democracy.
You have 3 separate peoples who make up this nation. They are held within artificial borders that were arbitrarily written down on a map by a colonial power 80+ years ago. The only thing that can possibly work is to form a constitutional republic that will guarantee the rights of all Iraqis regardless of race or faith.
Democracy is 51% telling 49% what to do, this path will end in a bloodbath and must be avoided at all cost.

Posted by: Rob D at April 28, 2003 09:44 AM

Democracy cannot work in Iraq. There is too strong a majority that will be sheep-led into a Taliban theocracy ruled by Muslam Imams.
What will work has been proved out in Pakistan. It must be a military iron rule over the theocrats with a large well paid army to back up the General strong man. Like Pakastan he must be an unusual individual with an awareness of global society living alongside the Koran led 'takes us back to the good old days' puritans.

Posted by: Don Davie at April 28, 2003 03:12 PM

Democracy cannot work, it must be a republic because there are differences between regions? Where are you guys from? The US calls itself a democracy, and would like more like it, but it is actually a republic and wants more like that. We have differences in outlook and approaches between ranchers/farmers and city-dwellers, and this was acknowledged from the very beginnings of the country. The US was, and is, also one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse countries in the world, and this too was taken into account from the start.

This is why I laugh/cry when eedjuts say we cannot possibly succeed because we have never dealt with multi-ethnic and multi-religious matters. We have some two hundred years of experience with these things - show me a European or Middle Eastern country that has dealt with this on as wide a diversity and without resorting to the kiling ground.

Posted by: John Anderson at April 28, 2003 04:15 PM