ABSTRACT
Since the first modern government of Iraq was created by and under British mandate in 1920, observers inside and outside the country have argued over its imperial and colonial legacies, identity, and viability. The increasing prominence of coercion in Iraqi politics also brought about increased prominence of military officers in politics. The turmoil in southern and central Iraq contrasted sharply with the relative peace and stability in Kurdistan. In April 2013, a new group broke with al-Qaida and declared its intent to establish an Islamic state that spanned both Syria and Iraq. Oil revenues—and the state's control over them—have been the dominant feature in Iraq's economy since at least the 1950s. As a formal political structure, Iraq's 2005 constitution contains many important tenets consistent with democratic values and practices. Since Iraq remained under the occupation authority of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Governing Council was in no way sovereign.
