Rebuilding Iraq: an Assessment of the U.S.-Led Statebuilding in Iraq (2003-2011)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rebuilding Iraq: an Assessment of the U.S.-Led Statebuilding in Iraq (2003-2011) Leiden University – Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs Rebuilding Iraq: an Assessment of the U.S.-led Statebuilding In Iraq (2003-2011) Master Thesis MSc Crisis and Security Management Written by: Karen de Brouwer Student Number: s2073218 Supervised by: Dr. Ernst Dijxhoorn Leiden University- Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs Program- MSc Crisis and Security Management (September Intake) Date of Submission – June 10th, 2018 Word Count – 20, 568 (excluding Table of Contents, references and footnotes). Table of Contents List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 Societal Relevance .................................................................................................................... 7 Academic Relevance ................................................................................................................ 7 Reading Guide ......................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Theoretical and Methodological Underpinnings ............................................. 10 Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................... 10 Neo-Weberian Institutionalism and the Theory on the State and Statebuilding ............... 10 Neo-Weberian Institutionalism implications for the Practice of Statebuilding ................ 12 U.S. Statebuilding in Practice ........................................................................................... 13 Main Critiques and Prescriptions for Statebuilding ............................................................. 14 Location of this Research within the Body of Knowledge ............................................... 15 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 16 Data Gathering .................................................................................................................. 17 Data Exploitation .............................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2: Context ................................................................................................................. 20 The War on Terror and the Bush Doctrine ........................................................................... 20 Iraq- the next step in the War on Terror............................................................................ 21 Going to War ..................................................................................................................... 22 The origins of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) ................................................... 23 The Issuance of Coalition Provisional Authority Orders 1 and 2 ..................................... 24 Chapter 3: Establishing Security and the Strength of the Iraqi State .............................. 26 Strategic Planning for Post-war Iraq and its clash with reality: ........................................... 27 Coalition Provisional Authority Order 1- The de-Ba’athification of Iraqi Society .......... 28 Coalition Provisional Authority Order 2- Dissolution of Entities .................................... 29 1 The effects of the Issuance and Implementation of CPA orders 1 and 2 on post-war Iraq’s security and rule of law. ....................................................................................................... 30 CPA Order 2- Dissolution of Entities ............................................................................... 30 CPA Order 1- De-Ba’athification of Iraqi Society ........................................................... 31 Evolution of Post-war Iraqi Security Environment .............................................................. 36 2003 -2005 –The Immediate Post-war context and deterioration of the Iraqi Security Environment ...................................................................................................................... 36 2006- 2007- The Iraqi Civil war ....................................................................................... 37 2007 – 2011 – testing the Statebuilding 3.0 model and Counterinsurgency Strategy ...... 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 39 Chapter 4: Restoring Essential Services and the Scope dimension of the Iraqi State ..... 41 Efforts of the U.S.-led coalition to enhance Public Services Provision in Iraq (2003-2011)42 Planning and Assumptions ..................................................................................................... 43 The influence of public expectations on service provision´s effect on state legitimacy ... 46 The impact of CPA Order 1 on the Restoration of Public Services ..................................... 48 The impact of CPA Order 2 on the Restoration of Public Services ..................................... 50 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 52 Chapter 5: The Democratization of Iraq ............................................................................. 53 Democracy in Liberal Peacebuilding and the Ambitions for Iraq ........................................ 54 Transition towards Democracy- Drafting a new Constitution and the Elections of 2005 and 2010 ...................................................................................................................................... 55 The January 2005 Elections and the Transitional National Assembly ............................. 56 Drafting a New Iraqi Constitution .................................................................................... 58 December 2005 elections .................................................................................................. 58 The National Elections of 2010. ....................................................................................... 60 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 62 Chapter 6: Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 65 2 The effects of CPA orders 1 and 2 on the U.S.-led Statebuilding intervention in Iraq (2003- 2011) ..................................................................................................................................... 65 Limitations and Pitfalls ......................................................................................................... 68 Recommendations for Statebuilding Practitioners ............................................................... 69 References ............................................................................................................................... 71 Academic Articles ................................................................................................................ 71 News Articles ....................................................................................................................... 77 Databases and Surveys ......................................................................................................... 77 Statements and Official Documents .................................................................................... 78 Annexes ................................................................................................................................... 79 Annex 1- CPA order 1- de-Ba’athification of Iraqi Society ................................................. 79 Annex 2- CPA order 2- Dissolution of Entities .................................................................... 81 3 List of Abbreviations CPA – Coalition Provisional Authority ORHA - Organization for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs HNDC - Higher National de-Ba’athification Commission OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development UN - United Nations Organization CFM - Counterinsurgency Field Manual IGC – Iraqi Governing Council OIF – Operation Iraqi Freedom NIA – New Iraqi Army ISG – Iraq Study Group TNA – Transitional National Assembly TAL – Transitional Administrative Law AJC – Accountability and Justice Commission AJL – Accountability and Justice Law UIA – United Iraqi Alliance IHEC - Iraqi Independent Higher Electoral Committee IAF – Iraqi Accord Front DPAK – Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan COIN – Counterinsurgency 4 Introduction Up until 2002, Iraq was “still a sovereign state, with government institutions able to deliver standard public goods to its people”1, with a strong security apparatus, relatively low corruption and practically nonexistent terrorist activity. Overall, “while the national sphere lacked political and civil society activities, security and stability were maintained”2 . This image contrasts severely with what we have come to associate with Iraq over the last fifteen years. As of 2018, Iraq is considered to be one of the most unstable, insecure and fragile states in the world.3 The country suffers from widespread insecurity, mounting sectarianism, and insufficient provision
Recommended publications
  • Blood and Ballots the Effect of Violence on Voting Behavior in Iraq
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Göteborgs universitets publikationer - e-publicering och e-arkiv DEPTARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE BLOOD AND BALLOTS THE EFFECT OF VIOLENCE ON VOTING BEHAVIOR IN IRAQ Amer Naji Master’s Thesis: 30 higher education credits Programme: Master’s Programme in Political Science Date: Spring 2016 Supervisor: Andreas Bågenholm Words: 14391 Abstract Iraq is a very diverse country, both ethnically and religiously, and its political system is characterized by severe polarization along ethno-sectarian loyalties. Since 2003, the country suffered from persistent indiscriminating terrorism and communal violence. Previous literature has rarely connected violence to election in Iraq. I argue that violence is responsible for the increases of within group cohesion and distrust towards people from other groups, resulting in politicization of the ethno-sectarian identities i.e. making ethno-sectarian parties more preferable than secular ones. This study is based on a unique dataset that includes civil terror casualties one year before election, the results of the four general elections of January 30th, and December 15th, 2005, March 7th, 2010 and April 30th, 2014 as well as demographic and socioeconomic indicators on the provincial level. Employing panel data analysis, the results show that Iraqi people are sensitive to violence and it has a very negative effect on vote share of secular parties. Also, terrorism has different degrees of effect on different groups. The Sunni Arabs are the most sensitive group. They change their electoral preference in response to the level of violence. 2 Acknowledgement I would first like to thank my advisor Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq's Civil War, the Sadrists and the Surge
    IRAQ’S CIVIL WAR, THE SADRISTS AND THE SURGE Middle East Report N°72 – 7 February 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 II. BAGHDAD’S CIVIL WAR AND THE SADRISTS’ ASCENT................................. 2 A. HOW THE SADRISTS EXPANDED THEIR TERRITORY ...............................................................2 B. NEUTRALISING THE POLICE...................................................................................................4 C. DEALING IN VIOLENCE..........................................................................................................6 III. THE SADRISTS’ REVERSAL OF FORTUNE .......................................................... 8 A. AN INCREASINGLY UNDISCIPLINED MOVEMENT ...................................................................8 B. THE SADRISTS’ TERRITORIAL REDEPLOYMENT...................................................................10 C. ARE THE SADRISTS SHIFTING ALLIANCES?.............................................................................13 D. A CHANGE IN MODUS OPERANDI........................................................................................16 IV. A SUSTAINABLE CEASEFIRE? .............................................................................. 18 V. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Middle East Report, Nr. 72: Iraq's Civil War, the Sadrists and the Surge
    IRAQ’S CIVIL WAR, THE SADRISTS AND THE SURGE Middle East Report N°72 – 7 February 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 II. BAGHDAD’S CIVIL WAR AND THE SADRISTS’ ASCENT................................. 2 A. HOW THE SADRISTS EXPANDED THEIR TERRITORY ...............................................................2 B. NEUTRALISING THE POLICE...................................................................................................4 C. DEALING IN VIOLENCE..........................................................................................................6 III. THE SADRISTS’ REVERSAL OF FORTUNE .......................................................... 8 A. AN INCREASINGLY UNDISCIPLINED MOVEMENT ...................................................................8 B. THE SADRISTS’ TERRITORIAL REDEPLOYMENT...................................................................10 C. ARE THE SADRISTS SHIFTING ALLIANCES?.............................................................................13 D. A CHANGE IN MODUS OPERANDI........................................................................................16 IV. A SUSTAINABLE CEASEFIRE? .............................................................................. 18 V. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Political Marketing in Post-Conflict Elections: the Case of Iraq
    Journal of Political Marketing ISSN: 1537-7857 (Print) 1537-7865 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wplm20 Political Marketing in Post-Conflict Elections: The Case of Iraq Adam Harmes To cite this article: Adam Harmes (2016): Political Marketing in Post-Conflict Elections: The Case of Iraq, Journal of Political Marketing, DOI: 10.1080/15377857.2016.1193834 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2016.1193834 Accepted author version posted online: 03 Jun 2016. Published online: 03 Jun 2016. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 13 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wplm20 Download by: [University of Western Ontario] Date: 24 June 2016, At: 07:21 Political Marketing in Post-conflict Elections: The Case of Iraq Adam Harmes Address correspondence to Adam Harmes, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Western Ontario, 4155 Social Sciences Building, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada. 416-346-4770. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract This article examines political marketing in post-conflict elections through an illustrative case study of post-Saddam Iraq. It does so through articles and media reports as well as interviews and participant-observation research conducted in Iraq during the 2014 national and provincial elections. The article argues that, despite having a number of the comparative and ethnic conflict country characteristics that work against a market oriented approach, Iraqi political parties have become increasingly professionalized and, to a lesser extent, willing to change their product in response to market research.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq, August 2006
    Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Iraq, August 2006 COUNTRY PROFILE: IRAQ August 2006 COUNTRY Formal Name: Republic of Iraq (Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah). Short Form: Iraq. Term for Citizen(s): Iraqi(s). Click to Enlarge Image Capital: Baghdad. Major Cities (in order of population size): Baghdad, Mosul (Al Mawsil), Basra (Al Basrah), Arbil (Irbil), Kirkuk, and Sulaymaniyah (As Sulaymaniyah). Independence: October 3, 1932, from the British administration established under a 1920 League of Nations mandate. Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1) and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein (April 9) are celebrated on fixed dates, although the latter has lacked public support since its declaration by the interim government in 2003. The following Muslim religious holidays occur on variable dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar: Eid al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), Islamic New Year, Ashoura (the Shia observance of the martyrdom of Hussein), Mouloud (the birth of Muhammad), Leilat al Meiraj (the ascension of Muhammad), and Eid al Fitr (the end of Ramadan). Flag: The flag of Iraq consists of three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green, five-pointed stars centered in the white band. The phrase “Allahu Akbar” (“God Is Great”) also appears in Arabic script in the white band with the word Allahu to the left of the center star and the word Akbar to the right of that star. Click to Enlarge Image HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Early History: Contemporary Iraq occupies territory that historians regard as the site of the earliest civilizations of the Middle East.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq in Crisis
    Burke Chair in Strategy Iraq in Crisis By Anthony H. Cordesman and Sam Khazai January 24, 2014 Request for comments: This report is a draft that will be turned into an electronic book. Comments and suggested changes would be greatly appreciated. Please send any comments to Anthony H. Cordsman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, at [email protected]. ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy [email protected] Iraq in Crisis: Cordesman and Khazai January 24, 2014 Update ii Acknowledgements This analysis was written with the assistance of Burke Chair researcher Daniel Dewitt. Iraq in Crisis: Cordesman and Khazai January 24, 2014 Update iii Executive Summary As events in late December 2013 and early 2014 have made brutally clear, Iraq is a nation in crisis bordering on civil war. It is burdened by a long history of war, internal power struggles, and failed governance. Is also a nation whose failed leadership is now creating a steady increase in the sectarian divisions between Shi’ite and Sunni, and the ethnic divisions between Arab and Kurd. Iraq suffers badly from the legacy of mistakes the US made during and after its invasion in 2003. It suffers from threat posed by the reemergence of violent Sunni extremist movements like Al Qaeda and equally violent Shi’ite militias. It suffers from pressure from Iran and near isolation by several key Arab states. It has increasingly become the victim of the forces unleashed by the Syrian civil war. The country’s main threats, however, result from self-inflicted wounds caused by its political leaders.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of the Iraqi Election: a Working Analysis
    Center for Strategic and International Studies Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy 1800 K Street, N.W. • Suite 400 • Washington, DC 20006 Phone: 1 (202) 775 -3270 • Fax: 1 (202) 457 -8746 Email: [email protected] The Impact of the Iraqi Election: A Working Analysis Anthony H. Cordesman Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy [email protected] With the Assistance of Patric k Baetjer Revised Working Draft: January 10, 2006 Cordesman: Real Meaning of Iraqi Elections 1/10/06 Page 2 Executive Summary ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 4 Most Iraqis Welcomed the Election ................................ ................................ ................ 5 But, Iraqis Voted on Ethnic or Sectarian Lin es Without a Clear Agenda for the Future 6 The Full Meaning of the Preliminary Results Remains Uncertain ................................ .7 Voting by Governorate, Not Nationwide ................................ ................................ .... 7 The Total Turnout a nd Voters as a Percentage of Total Registered ........................... 7 Voting by Major Party Grouping by Governorate ................................ ...................... 8 Highlighting the Results in Sectarian and Ethnic Terms ................................ .............. 11 The Role of the International Mission for Iraqi Elections ................................ ............ 13 And, the Election is Only a Prelude to Months of Effort in Forming a New Government, Shaping the Nature of Iraqi Politics,
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq's Political Transition After the Surge
    IRAQ’S POLITICAL TRANSITION AFTER THE SURGE Five Enduring Tensions and Ten Key Challenges Brian Katulis, Marc Lynch, and Peter Juul Center for American Progress September 2008 www.americanprogress.org Center for American Progress Executive summary he 2007-2008 surge of U.S. troops achieved important gains in reducing vio- lence in Iraq. But it has not delivered on its central objective: achieving a sus- T tainable power consolidation among Iraq’s different political forces. The surge has frozen into place the accelerated fragmentation that Iraq underwent in 2006 and 2007 and has created disincentives to bridge central divisions between Iraqi factions. The common refrain that the surge has produced military success that has not been matched by political progress fundamentally misrepresents the nature of Iraq’s political evolution. The increased security achieved over the last two years has been purchased through a number of choices that have worked against achieving meaningful political reconciliation. The reductions in violence in 2007 and 2008 have, in fact, made true political accommodation in Iraq more elusive, contrary to the central theory of the surge. Rather than advancing Iraq’s political transition and facilitating power-sharing deals among Iraq’s factions, the surge has produced an oil revenue-fueled, Shia-dominated national government with close ties to Iran. This national government shows few signs of seeking to compromise and share meaningful power with other frustrated political factions. The surge has set up a political house of cards. But this does not mean that the U.S. military must stay longer to avoid its collapse.
    [Show full text]
  • Epr Atlas 939
    Iraq Ethnicity in Iraq Group selection Population sizes were compared among four sources, the 1994 pro- jection of ANM, the 2003 Fearon list, the 1993 MAR list (using UN population estimates for 1995) and the CIA World Factbook list of ethnic groups for 2000 and 2005 (cp. references below). The following codings were made after the comparison of the different estimates: Shi’a Arabs: While the CIA and Gurr estimate the size of this group at 60%, other sources, including Fearon and the Fischer Weltalmanach give a value of 63%, which is consistent with the estimate that the Shi’a make up about 2/3 of the Muslim population of Iraq, which in turn is about 95% of the total population. For this reason, the slightly higher estimate is retained. Sunni Arabs, Kurds: The values for these two groups fluctuate somewhat, which is unsurprising since accurate estimates for the Kurdish population was harder to come by under the rule of Saddam Hussein and now, some parts of the Sunni Arab population have temporarily sought refuge in neighboring countries regularly return- ing for a short while when their visitors’ visa run out. After weighing all available estimates, the values of 19% for the Sunni Arab popula- tion and 16% for the Kurdish population were chosen. Power relations 1946-1979 After its independence from British administration in 1932, Iraq became a monarchy under King Faisal (2558). He fostered unity 2558 [Central Intelligence Agency, 2017] between the Sunni and Shi’a Arab communities in alignment with the prevailing movement at the time of Panarabism, which promoted Arab unity across the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security
    Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs June 8, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL31339 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security Summary The Obama Administration is facing a security environment in Iraq vastly improved over that which prevailed during 2005-2007, although still not completely peaceful or without potential to deteriorate significantly. The “turnaround” has been widely attributed to the “troop surge” announced by President Bush on January 10, 2007 (“New Way Forward”). Recent Defense Department reports assess that overall frequency of violence is down to levels not seen since 2003, yet insurgents are still able to conduct high profile attacks in several major cities. These attacks have not caused a modification of the February 27, 2009, announcement by President Obama that all U.S. combat brigades would be withdrawn by August 31, 2010, leaving a residual presence of 35,000 – 50,000 U.S. trainers, advisers, and mentors, with these to be withdrawn by the end of 2011. This drawdown is in line with a U.S.-Iraq “Security Agreement,” ratified by Iraq’s parliament on November 27, 2008. Some U.S. officials believe that insurgents are waiting to take advantage of the drawdown and that a U.S. military presence might be needed beyond 2011 to ensure further political progress and produce a unified, democratic Iraq that can govern and defend itself and is an ally in the war on terror. Others worry that some of the many remaining political disputes among Iraqi factions could escalate and reignite civil conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • IRAQ COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
    IRAQ COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 30 August 2011 IRAQ 26 AUGUST 2011 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN IRAQ FROM 23 JULY 2011 TO 26 AUGUST 2011 Useful news sources for further information REPORTS ON IRAQ PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 23 JULY AND 26 AUGUST 2011 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Size and population.............................................................................................. 1.01 Ethnicity and religion........................................................................................... 1.04 Language .............................................................................................................. 1.06 Measurements ...................................................................................................... 1.07 Public holidays ..................................................................................................... 1.08 Maps ...................................................................................................................... 1.09 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 Currency................................................................................................................ 2.05 Employment.........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq in Crisis
    MAY 2014 Iraq in Crisis ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN AND SAM KHAZAI AND SAM ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN 1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW| Washington DC 20036 t. (202) 887-0200 | f. (202) 775-3199 | www.csis.org Iraq in ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD Lanham • Boulder • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, MD 20706 t. (800) 462-6420 | f. (301) 429-5749 | www.rowman.com Crisis AUTHORS Cover photo: Photo by Kaveh Seyedahmadian. http://www.flickr.com/photos/samanvari/3388535986/. Anthony H. Cordesman ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD ISBN 978-1-4422-2855-9 Sam Khazai Ë|xHSLEOCy228559z v*:+:!:+:! A Report of the CSIS Burke Chair in Strategy Blank Iraq in Crisis Authors Anthony H. Cordesman Sam Khazai A Report of the CSIS Burke Chair in Strategy May 2014 ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD Lanham • Boulder • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK About CSIS For over 50 years, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has worked to develop solutions to the world’s greatest policy challenges. Today, CSIS scholars are providing strategic insights and bipartisan policy solutions to help decisionmakers chart a course toward a better world. CSIS is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look into the future and anticipate change. Founded at the height of the Cold War by David M. Abshire and Admiral Arleigh Burke, CSIS was dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world. Since 1962, CSIS has become one of the world’s preeminent international institutions focused on defense and security; regional stability; and transnational challenges ranging from energy and climate to global health and economic integration.
    [Show full text]