Ethnicity-Based Political Instability in Iraq After 2003

Abstract

Ethnic diversity is a global phenomenon that has become more critical after the Cold War and has been given particular importance by many scholars due to its extreme sensitivity in terms of internal conflicts and its effect on the political stability in a country. From this perspective, Iraq is a country characterized by ethnic diversity reflected by cultural, linguistic, religious, and national differentiation. Iraq was under the one-party rule before 2003, and the ethnic groups did not have any role in political life. In contrast, the new constitution gave more privileges to the ethnic communities. This article discussed the issue of ethnicity diversity in Iraq with reference to the political situation after the US invasion in 2003. The relationship between ethnic diversity and national identity is analyzed with particular emphasis on how ethnics diversity is be managed to ensure a decisive role in Iraq’s political life in Iraq. This article concluded that ethnic diversity is not governed healthily and thus, contributed to the political instability in Iraq.

Keywords

• ethnic diversity
• political stability
• national identity
• iraq
• etnik çeşitlilik
• siyasal istikrar
• milli kimlik
• irak