Iraq is Spinning Its Wheels, But in the Right Direction

Summary

• The political situation in Baghdad is still blocked almost four months after the national elections signaled change while denying any one of the four main coalitions a clear mandate to govern.
• The complications are real, but so too is a political culture that is increasingly appealing to
  democratic norms and factors to sort out the difficulties.

About this Brief

Daniel Serwer is vice president for Centers of Innovation at the United States Institute of Peace.  These views, based on talks with dozens of Iraqi politicians in Baghdad during June 2010, are his own.