Unity and prosperity are Iraq’s unsolved dilemma

Regarding Mina Al-Oraibi’s article Sixty years on, Iraq needs a strong head of state for unity and sovereignty (July 22), unity is truly an unsolved challenge in Iraq. It is also true that Iraq needs a strong head of state rather than coups and more chaos. But why don’t we find out what triggers the problem of instability? Although its governmental system has become parliamentary democracy, many Iraqis were overwhelmed by this transition and the promise of democracy for a prosperous Iraq has turned into a nightmare for many.

Democracy was always built on fragile ground. The invasion of Iraq imposed its own political agendas and structures, without any regards to Iraqi sociological history, ethno-cultural and religious differences. The democratisation process carried many fallacies, from the drafting of the constitution itself – the main pillar in building unity and a national conscience – to undermining Iraq unity through federalism.

Iraq came out of the shadow of corruption, massacres, suppression and ethno-racism over four decades. The invasion didn’t appease the population’s rage, insecurities and intimidation over another devastating rule; instead, it acted as conqueror rather than mediator. It didn’t give Iraq a very gradual and fair transition to bring about a turning point in the political system, it just added catastrophic changes that brought another chapter of grief in Iraqi history.

Asma Al Hashmi, Abu Dhabi