16 years after the fall of Baath Party rule in Iraq

16 years after the fall of Baath Party rule in Iraq


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Dr.. Ahmed Adnan Al-Maily / Future Center for Strategic Studies

 

On 9/4 of each year, the anniversary of the fall of the regime of the Baath party in Iraq, the entry and occupation of US forces, and the political changes witnessed by Iraq after 2003, and the emergence of a political process based on the basis of entering the stage of democratic transition, And data emerged with this stage and argued with it, and began to highlight a range of challenges have intensified recently, and therefore began to ask questions: How far can be devoted to the reality of democracy in Iraq under the extension of these challenges ?, What are the possibilities capable of completing the democratic transformation as a national necessity and not A political option only ?.

There is no doubt that there is a clear difference in the theoretical reading and practice in this regard, and therefore the current scene requires the presence of two witnesses: The first says: The reality of the public sphere in Iraq after 2003, the values ​​and requirements of the regulatory and enhanced the transition to democracy aborted the transition phase. The second is that there are many challenges devoted to the idea of ​​democratic regression, which presents the ideas of comparison between the current stage and the rule of the Baath party.

From this introduction, the following three axes can be put in place to dismantle the post-2003 phase, from elements and constraints, and what needs to be overcome, according to the following axes:

The first axis: the elements of the post-2003 phase

The reality and the political scene after 2003 have clear indications that transition to democratic transition, at least in relation to the framework of political practice, can not be compared with what it was under the totalitarian regime before 2003. The introduction of these signs and practices will contribute to the promotion of democratic values ​​and The idea of ​​democratic transformation.

The most prominent features of these transformations, which emerged from the current political experience, are summarized as follows:

The source of power: The source of power now in Iraq is a popular source. The collective democratic option, rather than a personal, partisan, revolutionary or coupary source, adopts this democratic, if genetically, friction, providing an important climate to confirm the idea of ​​transformation. On this side.

The legitimacy of the Authority: It is now governed by constitutional choices and elections and a political and popular will based on political and social pluralism. The basis of this legitimacy is the constitution of the respondent despite all the observations made on it.

The form of power: The form of power has not now remained as it was monolithic (one party, one leader), and a rigid negative power that does not believe in the other, but has become the form of pluralistic parliamentary parliamentary power.

The role of the authority is not as it was before, security, police, military, pursuing a policy of war and aggression, internally and externally, but a function that has constitutional and social determinants. There is a political diplomatic openness. There is a role for non-political institutions in influencing decision-making and decision making. Civil society, clans, elites and competencies to some extent.

Since 2003, there have been five heads of government, a governing council, a national assembly, four parliamentary sessions, and three provincial council sessions in elections that have witnessed a personal and partisan political change and even alliances and working methods. .

The second axis: the post-2003 obstacles

According to the political experience experienced by Iraq, the challenges of democratic transformation emerge after 2003, which contributed to delaying the country's development and political development. .

The most prominent of these challenges are:

The capabilities of the political forces: The Iraqi political forces proved in their partnership to run the country that they are unsuccessful and unable to push the democratic transition and institution-building, did not prove this and did not choose their final independence from the forces and countries hostile to the political process.

The constitutional problem: The constitution needs to be amended because it is drafted in a hurry; because it lacks the structure of the rules of law that can be invoked in the legislation and the procedures of implementing the constitutional articles that are regulated by law, which multiplied the conflict of wills and devoted the theory of components through the mechanisms of the declaration of the regions and the demands of separation and threat of majority, Indeed, there are some features of the decline in the pattern of democratic transformation, which requires different climates and elements and different from what exists in reality to promote the values ​​of democracy through the production of institutions.

The internal emergency data, such as the emergence of a state of sectarian strife and political segregation, political and administrative corruption that transcended the hierarchy of authority to leak into public space and the spread of bribery, cronyism, usurpation, access, mismanagement, failure of institution building, and the obstruction of state building and the necessary political stability. All this resulted in the entry of an organization to support and occupy one-third of Iraq's territory and borders.

External data: In an important aspect is the transfer of aspirations to antagonize the axis of regional and international evil to build the state in Iraq towards striking democracy, those countries that view Iraq as a bride between the people, caused and produced a situation of loss of security and development through the manufacture of terrorism and the construction of a basic thinking and advocacy External to an infallible method of violence aimed at establishing a method of action to restore Iraq to the incubator of tyranny and centralism, and change the equation of political and social rule in Iraq.

This is one of the most serious challenges that need to neutralize regional and international influence by strengthening the control of the foreign policy file and leaving the dependence and political dependence abroad.

Axis III: Prospects and Alternatives to Override

The most important thing that can be identified in promoting the democratic building processes in Iraq at all levels, after taking the antagonists of the above regression, is (political alternatives, economic alternatives, social alternatives).

Political Alternatives: The future of democratic transition in Iraq requires the following requirements:

A lack of focus on the injustices of the past, a positive vision of the transition to confront the fear of the previous authoritarian regime, dealing with those who collaborated with the projected regime or extremist groups according to the law and not seek revenge and the confiscation of their assets with the isolation and exclusion of those who refuse to renounce violence and insist on Disobedience and intransigence.

All political and social forces must be recognized, have a fundamental role in the current political transformations, and ensure that there is a strong opposition with sufficient popular support to be a reasonable rival to power and to exchange roles and positions with the parties of power.

C - To bridge the deep differences and build bridges between the ruling parties on the objectives, leadership and important strategies, the leaders of the parties of power must overcome these divisions and build broad alliances and unite positions, any failure to unify the visions and positions; democracy will suffer and the political system will fail.

D - Expanding the base of political participation within the ruling parties by pushing new and young generations from all classes to guide demands and develop parties. The weakness of the parties and their organization is sufficient reason for the deterioration of the democratic transition.

It is difficult to build a functioning, functioning and sustainable democracy if the ruling parties do not ultimately implement policies, build institutions, provide security and services, gain public support and make people believe that democratic transformation is possible.

Economic development: Broadly speaking, it is the strengthening of economic structures. This development requires the building of security and stability. As a demand for this development, there are resources and elements that need employment and planning with the state-building mentality, not the exercise of power at the moment, without devoting efforts to achieve development requirements. And a law on infrastructure to initiate the transition towards sustainable development and the completion of economic structures that achieve stability, the basic requirement for democratic advancement.

In conclusion, we say that democracy in Iraq requires that the leaders of political parties work to negotiate, waiver and work for the common good, not to revive family tendencies and enjoy the narrow circles of parties with positions and privileges. This needs to be sacrificed, hard work, skill and mastery of leadership, , To help consecrate a sustainable democracy in Iraq and to leave the risk of falling back and playing the Baath Party.

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