Publication

This paper examines the political, military and security challenges facing Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-‘Abadi one year after he tool office in September 2014 as well as the prospects for the future of his country. In general, the authors contend that ‘Abadi continues to face a struggle in his efforts to build a politically inclusive and functionally viable state in Iraq. While he was successful in pushing an ambitious reform plan through parliament in August 2015, argues the author, this will prove inadequate without genuine political backing from the key domestic and external actors in Iraq. The problem is that these actors remain almost exclusively focused on the fight against the Islamic State, and not on reconciliation between Sunni and Shii Arab citizens, military and financial reforms, or the delivery of crucial services. Consequently, the outlook for the state of Iraq is not good.