Are Iraq’s democratic institutions strong enough to withstand and resolve the sectarian differences plaguing the country?  How will Iraq’s neighbors affect its political formation? Join us for a lively and insightful discussion regarding Iraq’s government formation in light of recent parliamentary elections, the subsequent political jockeying and the US withdrawal. 

Event Audio:

Michael Svetlik, IFES Vice President for Programs, moderated the event. His introduction gave a quick overview of Iraq’s recent history.

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Ted Galen Carpenter, Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, opened the discussion with a brief assessment of the current political situation. He then presented four possible scenarios for Iraq’s future. He concluded with his perspective on the level of involvement the U.S. should have in Iraq.

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Perry Cammack, Professional Staff Member at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke about the improvements he sees in Iraq since 2007. He said Iraq is still in time to form a government and move forward. He also expressed his perspective on the ways the U.S. can engage with Iraq to help the country continue advancing.

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Sean Dunne, IFES Chief of Party in Iraq, compared the 2010 elections to the ones that took place in 2005 to show Iraq’s institutions have developed significantly over the years. He also spoke about the current negations to form a government and what they say about the country’s development.

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Questions & Answers

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Featured Speakers

Sean Dunne
Chief of Party in Iraq, IFES

Ted Galen Carpenter
Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Perry Cammack
Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Moderator

Michael Svetlik
IFES Vice President for Programs.