ABSTRACT
Chapter 12 details the survival strategies of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The chapter focuses on the relationship between the administration of Barack Obama and Maliki in the aftermath of US troop withdrawal. Like every other leader in the region, Maliki tried to solidify support among a small but loyal base. He also employed divide-and-rule strategies, sidelining the Sunnis, overseeing a fragmented Shi’ite leadership, and tempering Kurdish aspirations for more autonomy and independence. This chapter also describes the chaotic balancing acts that Iraq was forced to adopt following the Arab Spring and the rise of ISIS. With neighboring Syria up in flames, Maliki was placed in a bind. The chapter details the implications of such balancing at regional, national, and local levels.
