Political conflict, tensions, and public complaints on the Iraqi street are increasing.
We believe that the following points are factual challenges to Consensus Democracy in Iraq, which are:
First, Iraqi community did not provide a situation for building and practicing consensus democracy. This means that both democracy and consensus are at an incomplete and undeveloped level than reality.
Second: non-implementation of articles of Iraqi’s permanent constitution is considered one of the key problems facing development of democratic process in the country.
Third: lack of a democratic spirit and cultural of acceptance in Iraqi community.
Fourth: do not accepting federal beliefs as an advanced example of ruling, although Article 1 of Iraq’s permanent constitution in 2005 says, “The republic of Iraq is a sovereign united federal state and governing regime in Iraq is republic represents democracy”, but we have seen opposite to this constitutional article, which in the reality federalism is not accepted by Sunnis, Shias and Iraqi streets except Kurds.
Fifth: fading three main concepts of (agreement, balance and partnership) that new Iraq has been established on. These three concepts are considered three fundamental points in Iraq’s governing system. Therefore, the fading or disappearance of this key triangle is one of the obstacles to consensus democracy in Iraq.
Sixth: Ethnic, sectarian and political separation plays in its widest area. Naturally Iraq designed in a way which is impossible to change that design. Arab Sunnis are neighbors to their Sunni dimensions, including (Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria). The Shias are neighbors of their Shia dimension (Iran). Kurds are also neighbors of their Kurdish dimensions in all other three parts of Kurdistan.
Seventh: control of political Islamic ideology over all Arab components of Iraq, Shia and Sunni sectarian parties, religion, and theological rule are theoretically based on governance and management of state and community affairs. This theological view does not match with features of democracy.
Eighth, having wills for specific sectarian groups, and ethnic instead of belonging to the country and the country’s high interests.
Ninth: Non-compliance with voters’ votes, in other words, non-compliance with outcome of elections, wishes and demands of voters during the elections.
Tenth: lack of a unified national identity that connects all Iraqi citizens.
Eleventh: Iraq has faced major economic obstacles due to unclear and corruption in revenue collection and distribution, which has divided Iraqi society into two classes. One of the class (rich class) take benefits from the state’s income and public property while the other one (poor class) due to out from the state’s income.
Twelfth; culture and use of dictatorship have a practical existence by both Iraqi individuals and powerful political parties.
