After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq entered a phase of interim and transitional governments, followed by the experience of the new federal Iraq, which was intended to distribute power and resources fairly among the state’s components. Yet this experience still bears the title of failure, as it witnessed widespread government corruption, continued buying and selling of positions, and favouritism in appointments, while the ordinary citizen remained the one paying the price of government policies.
From 2003 until today, no Iraqi government has exceeded ten years in power, while the average lifespan of government formations has been around three to four years for each government, with frequent ministerial changes and rising partisan divisions – reflecting ongoing political instability and the absence of long-term strategic planning.
When discussing that Iraq has not known more than twenty years of continuous governmental stability, context must be clarified. Even the relatively long periods like the monarchy (1921-1958) or the Ba’ath rule (1968-2003) faced great external pressures, internal conflicts, or sudden political changes. Therefore, stability is not measured solely by the number of years, but by the continuity of institutions and their ability to operate away from coups, wars, and political turmoil
Iraq’s political history shows that every ruling phase was tied to internal and external challenges. The monarchy faced British mandate pressures, the first republic suffered successive military coups, the Ba’ath regime pushed Iraq into conflicts with neighbouring countries and long wars, while post-2003 governments struggle to stabilize in an environment of party rivalry and sectarian and regional disputes. This reality shows that the lifespan of government systems in Iraq rarely exceeds two decades, making strategic planning and sustainable development difficult to achieve, and making continuous political stability – the foundation of any true economic or social development – a challenge Iraq still faces today.
[by MohannadShawqi in Al-Arab]
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque