Final Update on Iraq's Constitutional Process

Brown, Nathan J.

Article

Final Update on Iraq's Constitutional Process

By Nathan J. Brown

Published on Aug 12, 2005

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Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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Middle East

The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic.

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As they enter the final weekend of constitutional negotiations, Iraq’s leaders still are deeply divided on many basic constitutional issues. Those involved in the drafting process have indicated that most of the draft is complete but the most significant issues have not been decided. In this update I will provide an analysis of:

The remaining points of contention
The mechanisms for resolving these issues
The path forward if the drafters resolve the points of contention successfully; and
The path forward if they fail.

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About the Author

Nathan J. Brown

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Nathan J. Brown, a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, is a distinguished scholar and author of nine books on Arab politics and governance, as well as editor of five books.

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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.

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