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Electoral turnout in Iraq is a puzzling phenomenon. Despite the country’s lack of a democratic past, undeveloped party system, volatile political alliances, inexperienced voters, ethnic politics, sectarian violence, and terrorism, Iraqis’ electoral engagement has reached impressive levels. Given the importance of political participation at the foundational stages of democracy, this article places the individual within a broad context to draw an image of the likely Iraqi voter using five nationally representative surveys covering the three Iraqi parliamentary elections of 2005, 2010, and 2014. The main findings indicate that the Iraqi voter is likely to be a middle-aged, educated male with interest in politics and trust in the political institutions. Surprisingly, the socioeconomic and ethnic identities of the voter are not related to that individual’s decision to participate. Provincial-level violence has a complex and unstable link to individual turnout, depending on its timing, scale, and frequency, but it does not hinder participation. These results challenge some of the common themes in the literature on Iraqi politics and democratization. With the alarming decline in the turnout rate of the 2018 elections, this study is a preliminary guide to understanding how to sustain citizens’ engagement in new democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Ali al-Wardi's theoretical innovations, the article investigates the relatively new phenomena of the rentier state and society in Iraq as well as the ongoing political conflict between the different social groups and confessions as a battle about economic and financial resources related to the oil economy and to rent seeking. The discourse also highlights the issue of social justice accomplished by al-Wardi as a core socio-economic problem since the early period of Islam and influencing the political and confessional conflicts throughout the history of Iraq. Al-Wardi presented a great vision on plurality of society and how to build a multicultural, multi-ethnic nation in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Little is known about the educational consequences in Iraq during the U.S.-led invasion of 2003–2010. This study examines school enrollment based on the 2007 Iraq Household Socio-Economic Survey. There are three main findings. First, a population-weighted analysis indicates that the school enrollment rate (72.3%) is lower than past Iraqi rates but comparable to that in neighboring Arab countries. Second, a multivariate analysis shows that boys and rural children are far more likely to be enrolled. Last, household opinions suggest that a key reason for non-enrollment is lack of child or parent interest. An analysis of adult labor force participants suggests that the lack of interest is attributable to weak employment prospects for educated youth. Data limitations, however, prevent an adequate inquiry into the plight of the internally displaced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines two dimensions of political representation in Iraqi Kurdistan: representation as presence and substantive representation. It is argued that the high proportionality of the electoral system enables representation as presence, of women, minorities and diverse geographical, linguistic and socio-economic interests and groups. However, the electoral system challenges representation in both dimensions, insofar as it hampers the development of effective opposition. The opposition is vital to confront clientelism and corruption that undermine democracy in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Islamic Fadhila Party's MP Karim Al Yakubi elaborated on Turkey-Iraq relations, the parliamentary elections, Fadhila's point of view about the federalism in Iraq and socio-economic conditions in southern Iraq. Al Yakubi emphazised that building federalism in Iraq should pass through stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the health effect of economic sanctions and the potential consequences of military intervention in Iraq. Study conducted by the Center for Economic and Social Rights; How the Iraqi health care system is functional but vulnerable; How poliomyelitis, diphtheria, measles and typhoid fever pose threats for a post-conflict period; Statement that water, electricity, and sewage treatment plants would not withstand and military assault; How refugee camps and infrastructure systems must be spared during any military intervention to keep civilian casualties to a minimum; Statement that a humanitarian disaster is likely to ensue following an invasion; Questions surrounding the legality and morality of a military campaign that does not address the needs of the civilian population of Iraq.