New Iraq and Continuity of Opposing Intra-National Identities: The Issue of Making National Identity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to explore the impact of ethnic-religious identities on Iraq’s national identity crisis and a solution to overcome that with emphasis on Lucian Pye’s view (identity crisis). This research was conducted using descriptive-analytical method and the results showed that the political culture prevailing in Iraq including inhomogeneous context, militarism, tribalism, religious-ethnic intra-national identity and so on have deteriorated national identity crisis, and despite legal mechanisms such as Federalism, … in the new era, reaching a national identity has come to a crisis. In order to overcome the national identity crisis, it seems necessary to pay attention to an indigenous model compatible with Iraqi community that can bring unification between all groups based on creating a unifying and yet pluralist model recognizing diversity and co-existing ethnic groups.

Keywords

• iraq
• national identity
• ethnic-religious identities