Political Transformation in Iraq After 2003: Dynamics of Power Restructuring and the Emergence of Sectarian Divisions Within the Framework of the Democratic Process

Abstract

This study addresses the political transformation that the Iraqi arena witnessed after 2003, focusing on its repercussions in reinforcing sectarian divisions within the structure of the political system. This transformation produced a new reality in which democracy shifted from a project of building a civil state based on the foundations of citizenship and equality to a formal framework through which the interests of groups and sub-identities are managed. This negatively affected the cohesion of state institutions and led to the fragmentation of the social fabric.

The study also relies on the descriptive-analytical method to understand the nature of this transformation, in addition to the historical method, which helps in tracing the chronological context of events and linking them to manifestations of political and social division. Through reviewing the relevant intellectual literature, the study seeks to construct an integrated vision of the relationship between the restructuring of power and the entrenchment of social division, without resorting to the analysis of official documents or direct political speeches.

The significance of this study lies in the fact that it sheds light on a pivotal stage in the history of contemporary Iraq, contributing to explaining the reasons behind the faltering of civil state-building and the decline of trust in the democratic process. This opens the way for rethinking the foundations of national coexistence and its future prospects.