• Commentary
  • Research
  • Experts
  • Events
Carnegie China logoCarnegie lettermark logo
{
  "authors": [
    "Renad Mansour"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Levant",
    "Iraq",
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

In The Media
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Iraqi Politics and Muqtada Al-Sadr

Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi is going to have to pay attention to demands for institutional and structural change coming from the protests led by Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

Link Copied
By Renad Mansour
Published on Mar 31, 2016

Source: TRT World

Carnegie’s Renad Mansour joined TRT World to dicuss on-going significant developments in Iraqi politics. Primarily, Mansour commented on the protests led by Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr and Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi’s cabinet reshuffle and reforms.

Mansour argued that Abadi would have to listen to Al-Sadr’s demands for institutional and structural change, and Abadi knows it. He reiterated that Abadi himself is moving in the direction of reform and working towards establishing a technocratic cabinet.

Mansour discussed how Al-Sadr was able to mobilize large support for sit-ins and protests both inside and outside the Green Zone. Al-Sadr’s support primarily comes from southern Iraq and Baghdad but his increased acceptance and support is related to Al-Sadr’s efforts to rebrand himself as an Iraqi nationalist.

The interview was originally broadcast on TRT World.

About the Author

Renad Mansour

Former El-Erian Fellow, Middle East Center

Mansour was an El-Erian fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his research focuses on Iraq, Iran, and Kurdish affairs.

    Recent Work

  • Paper
    The Popular Mobilization Forces and Iraq’s Future

      Renad Mansour, Faleh A. Jabar

  • Commentary
    Game of Thrones in Baghdad

      Renad Mansour

Renad Mansour
Former El-Erian Fellow, Middle East Center
Renad Mansour
Political ReformLevantIraqMiddle East

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie China

  • Commentary
    China’s Evolving Economic and Security Role in the Middle East

    The advantage that China has over other global powers, especially America, is that its foreign policy is closely aligned with those of many of the Middle Eastern countries.

      Jin Liangxiang, Maha Yahya, Hesham Alghannam

  • Commentary
    China’s Rising Influence in the Middle East

    Transactional relationships are stable but can be shallow.

      • +1

      Paul Haenle, Maha Yahya, Benjamin Ho, …

  • Commentary
    What the Russian War in Ukraine Means for the Middle East

    It’s about managing oil prices, bread prices, and strategic partnerships.

      • +8

      Amr Hamzawy, Karim Sadjadpour, Aaron David Miller, …

  • Commentary
    A Message to the Carnegie Endowment Community

    The murder of George Floyd has underscored the deep inequities that have long plagued American society. In a note to the Carnegie community, Bill Burns reflects on Carnegie’s commitment to build a more just future here at home and around the world, without which peace will remain beyond our grasp.

      William J. Burns

  • Commentary
    U.S., China Should Pursue Peace, Not Military Brinkmanship

    While the world hoped this pandemic might lead to more cooperation between these two great powers, American and Chinese leaders instead fell into a blame game and allowed their increasing suspicions to guide their decision-making.

      Lyu Jinghua

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
Carnegie China logo, white
Keck Seng Tower133 Cecil Street #10-01ASingapore, 069535Phone: +65 9650 7648
  • Research
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.