The news about the Iraq seem to be always the same. In the former empire of Saddam Hussein dominates terrorism, destruction and death. Positive news of Iraq are neither in the newspaper nor in television. This inappropriates the reality. In Iraq there exist also positive occurrences. Indeed it is true that these are mostly only small successful stories for example a reopening of a school or a hospital or maybe only new medical equipment. But such events have not any space in the news. It´s seems to be to nonrelevant and these news do not represent the picture of the Iraq that the people have or want to have. Anyhow these prosperities are a step into a better future. However we also have to contemplate the Iraq with a view on the former days. There was a dictator, Saddam Hussein, a tyrant who controlled everybody, who eliminate the Schiites and Kurds, who let rape the women of his opponents, who demolished houses and at last executed thousands of people. And he did not only tyrannize his own country, he was also a big danger for the rest of the world. The first pictures after the conquest of Baghdad from the US-armed forces showed a population felt that their suffering under Saddam is over. There was a folk which celebrated the release from a brutal dictator. Also in 2005 the majority of the Iraq thinks still in the same way. There is a folk who sees a better future. 67 percent of the population have the opionion that their country will turn to a better route. Before the elections January 2005 67 percent of the population supported the elections and 88 percent reported that they will take part in the votings. At the end 58 percent of the whole population voted, which is a good result for a country which makes it´s first experiences with democratic principles. But of course it´s no question that the USA pursued a very high and difficult aim with the democratization of the Iraq and it is also beyond discussion that it will take a lot of time to democratize the Iraq, which was three years ago a dictatorship. In the following essay I would like to discuss the opportunity for the democratizationprocess in Iraq. But at first the essay begins with some aspects about the situation under the Saddam regime, because we can only appreciate the future options when we know something about the history. After this I go on with the contemporary situation in Iraq, with positive and negative aspects about the present democratization process. [...]
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Situation in Iraq under Saddam Hussein
2.1 Saddam the tyrant
3 Contemporary Situation in Iraq
3.1 A state of terrorism and occupation
3.2 Human rights
3.3 Freedom of speech/ Freedom of press
3.4 Elections and the plebiscite over the constitution
4 The Future of Iraq
4.1 Minorities in the future Iraq
4.2 The two U.S. Options
4.3 Is a democracy possible?
4.4 The risk of a forced democracy
5 Summary
6 Bibliography
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the complexities surrounding the democratization process in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. It analyzes the historical context of the dictatorship, the volatile security situation under foreign occupation, and the challenges of establishing democratic institutions in a deeply divided society.
- Historical legacy of the Saddam Hussein regime and its impact on modern Iraq
- Impact of the U.S.-led occupation on civil security and political stability
- Role of media freedom and constitutional developments in the democratization process
- Challenges of minority representation and sectarian balance in a federalized structure
- Debate between "Democracy Lite" withdrawal and prolonged long-term military occupation
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Freedom of speech/ Freedom of press
Freedom of speech and press is one of the most important indicators of a functioning democracy. In a democracy everbody can say or write what he wants, everbody can criticize the government. Only these statements are forbidden which are a danger for the general public interest or for the security of the state. Therefore this chapter gives an short overview over the contemporary situation of the free speech, especially the freedom of the press.
After the end of the Saddam regime there was and is still a really big boom of radio-and tv-channels as well as newspapers and magazines. Also internet cafes build up whole over the country. These medias were strictly controlled or forbidden in Saddam´s times. For example satellite dishes were banned in this era, the regime blocked many accesses to web sites and the state surver controlled personal e-mails of the population. For nearly three decades the state authority propaganda dominated the media. When Saddam Hussein reached the presidency in 1979 he eliminates every critical voice out of the media. Hundrets of critical journalists were sent to prison or were executed. Now this boom offers the Iraqi population new sources of information.
One year after the fall of Saddam experts registrated 200 different newspapers and 90 tv and radio channels. But with this spred there is also the danger that some papers and channels call the population for resistence and a figth against the occupants.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the post-Saddam Iraqi landscape and defines the scope of the democratization inquiry.
2 The Situation in Iraq under Saddam Hussein: Examines the origins and brutal nature of the totalitarian regime under Saddam Hussein.
3 Contemporary Situation in Iraq: Analyzes current challenges, including terrorism, human rights concerns, media transformation, and recent electoral processes.
4 The Future of Iraq: Evaluates the prospects for a stable Iraq, considering ethnic tensions, U.S. strategy options, and the risks of forced democratization.
5 Summary: Concludes the analysis by weighing the progress of democracy against the ongoing threats of sectarian violence and instability.
6 Bibliography: Lists the academic, political, and media sources utilized for this study.
Keywords
Democratization, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, U.S. Occupation, Baath Regime, Human Rights, Freedom of Speech, Constitution, Elections, Sectarianism, Terrorism, Sovereignty, Political Pluralism, Middle East, Foreign Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the post-2003 democratization process in Iraq, analyzing both the progress made toward democratic governance and the significant obstacles to achieving long-term stability.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the legacy of the former regime, the impact of foreign occupation, the development of Iraqi media, the constitutional referendum, and the ongoing struggle for national unity.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to evaluate whether a Western-style democracy is achievable in Iraq given its unique historical, cultural, and political context.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes qualitative analysis, drawing on reports from international organizations, political science literature, and contemporary media accounts to assess the state of Iraq's democratization.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the history of Saddam’s tyranny, the current security crisis, the role of human rights, the growth of free media, and the implications of the 2005 elections.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The paper is characterized by terms such as Democratization, Sectarianism, U.S. Occupation, Sharia, and Sovereignty.
How did the Baathist legacy influence modern Iraqi politics?
The regime created a "state of fear" and entrenched authoritarianism, which left a vacuum of institutional strength that makes the current transition to democratic principles difficult.
What is the "risk of a forced democracy" identified by the author?
The author argues that forcing a democratic system on a society shaped by different values without sufficient internal ownership can lead to social Uprooting and increased aggression.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Stolle (Author), 2005, Democratization of Iraq, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/60557
