Iraq's Future: The Aftermath of Regime Change (Adelphi series) - Softcover

Dodge, Toby

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415363896 ISBN 13: 9780415363891

Publisher: Routledge, 2005

Synopsis

It is hard to over estimate what is at stake in Iraq today. The removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime in April 2003 has proved to be the beginning, not the culmination, of a long and very uncertain process of state-building. This Adelphi Paper examines this process from a military, political and sociological perspective. Possible futures for Iraq are charted, first by studying the evolution of the criminal and politically-motivated violence that has come to dominate the everyday lives of ordinary Iraqis. The paper then details the strengths and weaknesses of the political structures built after the fall of Saddam’s regime, from the formation of the Iraqi Governing Council in 2004 to the elections of January 2005, and traces the forces driving political mobilization in post-Saddam Iraq. It concludes by analyzing the ramifications of regime change for US policy and the wider Middle East.

About this title

Review:

'Mr Dodge argues dispassionately and objectively ...the picture he paints is not an encouraging one.' - Contemporary Review

Synopsis:

It is hard to over-estimate what is at stake in Iraq today. The removal of Saddam Hussein has proved to be the beginning, not the culmination, of a long and highly uncertain process of occupation and state-building. The lawlessness and looting that greeted the liberation of Baghdad on April 9th 2003 has evolved into a self-sustaining dynamic that combines violence, instability and profound uncertainty. US troops now face an insurgency that has extended its geographical impact, while increasing the level of violence and the potential for destruction and instability have increased. Iraq's Future investigates why regime change in Baghdad has proved much more difficult and costly than at first anticipated. It examines the genesis and evolution of the violent campaign to expel United States troops and make Iraq ungovernable. It then goes on to explain the ideological currents that gave birth to the insurgency and how both the United States and new Iraqi government have tried to combat it. The United States and their local allies are now involved in a long-term mission of state-building in Iraq. The book describes what is involved in building a new government from scratch.

It then investigates how the United States has tried to pursue this goal and the tensions inherent in its approach. Finally the book charts the political trends at work in Iraqi society and how they are likely to unfold in the medium to long term.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0415363896
• ISBN 13: 9780415363891
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 72