After ISIS: Politics, Deal-Making, and the Struggle for Iraq’s Future
As the Islamic State (ISIS) is rolled back and defeated in Iraq and Syria, the fight for Iraq’s political future will begin. On both a local and national level, a new political deal between the country’s parties and communities will be necessary to keep the country together. Liberated territories will need to be secured by forces acceptable to locals, populations will need to return, and towns must be rebuilt. In addition, intra-Kurdish politics and Baghdad-Erbil relations will need a new framework—whether the Kurds decide to stay or go. Underlying these dynamics is the poor state of the post-oil price decline economy of the Kurdish region.
Read full discussion here.
Akeel Abbas
Professor, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
Mina al Oraibi
Senior Fellow, Institute of State Effectiveness
Member, AUIS Board of Trustees
Christine van den Toorn
Director, Institute of Regional and International Studies
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
Bilal Wahab
Professor, International Studies, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
Director, Center for Development and Natural Resources
Moderator
Henri J. Barkey
Director, Middle East Program, Wilson Center
Member, AUIS Board of Trustees
