Claim OwnershipIraqi Voices
Subscribed: 38Played: 411
Subscribe
© 1001 Iraqi Thoughts 2021
Description
Iraqi Voices showcases authentic perspectives and insights about current developments in Iraq. Each week, we examine one major event in the country through expert analysis, cutting through the conjecture to help listeners better navigate Iraq's complex social, political and economic environment.
Iraqi Voices is produced by 1001 Iraqi Thoughts.
Iraqi Voices is produced by 1001 Iraqi Thoughts.
35 Episodes
Reverse
This episode explores the recent election of Salahuddin’s governor and what it signals about cross-sectarian coalition-building in Iraq’s evolving political landscape. The hosts analyze the growing generational divide between Iraq's old guard politicians and emerging younger leaders, examining how transactional relationships are recalibrating power structures. They also discuss Tom Barrack's recent visit to Iraq, the complexities foreign actors face navigating Iraq's political landscape, and the diplomatic controversy surrounding Iraq's submission of maritime boundary coordinates to the UN, which sparked reactions from Kuwait and neighboring Arab states.
The outgoing government recently claimed it had met 88% of the targets set out in its three-year Government Program, even as it announced emergency austerity measures. In this episode, we scrutinize the credibility of that performance rating and examine the deeper fiscal reality behind delayed public sector salaries and pensions. We also ask why transparent and coherent communication about the true state of Iraq’s public finances remains absent at such a critical political moment.
This episode examines the ongoing political deadlock in Iraq's government formation process following President Trump's controversial social media post opposing Nouri Al-Maliki's nomination for prime minister. The hosts analyze the impasse within the Coordination Framework, Sudani's prospects for a second term, U.S. and regional interference, Kurdish negotiations over the presidency, and the economic challenges facing Iraq including controversial customs reforms prior to Ramadan.
This episode examines the dramatic developments in Iraq's government formation process following President Trump's Truth Social post threatening to withdraw U.S. support if Nouri al-Maliki is chosen to be prime minister. We analyze the Coordination Framework's internal divisions, explore alternatives to Maliki, and discuss the ongoing delays in electing Iraq's president. The conversation also addresses broader questions about Iraqi sovereignty, foreign intervention, and the future of Iraq's parliamentary system.
We explore how the ongoing government formation process sheds light on the underlying elite bargains that shape Iraq’s political system. We examine how power-sharing arrangements are negotiated and contested, what these dynamics reveal about the informal rules governing politics in Iraq, where elite consensus holds, where it begins to fracture, and what this suggests about the trajectory of governance and stability in the country.
After more than two decades in Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq is coming to an end. In this episode, we look back at UNAMI’s mandate since 2003, how its role evolved over time, and the moments that defined its presence in the country. We assess what UNAMI achieved, where it fell short, and what the end of its mandate means for Iraq’s political process, sovereignty, and relationship with the international community.
This episode examines the core priorities that will confront Iraq’s next government, regardless of who forms it. We discuss the need to consolidate Iraq’s relationship with the United States, strengthen fiscal buffers and curb corruption, and improve the delivery of reliable public services.
What the election data reveals about the poor performance of Tishreen-aligned parties, and how the Coordination Framework’s method for selecting the nominee for the premiership will shape the final choice.
In this episode, the Iraqi Voices team offers immediate thoughts on the preliminary election results and analyzes the performance of various coalitions. We also lay out the next steps in the government formation process and discuss the impact of high voter turnout on Iraq’s political dynamics.
International actors, including Iraq’s neighbors, are watching closely as the country heads toward elections. But what should guide their approach once the votes are in and government formation begins? This episode explores regional interests, the dangers of interference, and how external actors can help foster stability instead of undermining the democratic process.
With Iraq’s election approaching, campaign rhetoric is sliding back into old patterns of fear and division. This episode unpacks how some parties are appealing to identity and insecurity to win votes, and what this reveals about the country’s unresolved questions of governance and power-sharing.
As Iraq heads toward pivotal parliamentary elections this November, the outcome could reshape power dynamics in Baghdad. The Iraqi Voices team unpack why these elections are so consequential and what’s at stake for Iraq’s stability and democratic consolidation.
Iraqi Voices returns after a three-year hiatus. Hassan Hadad, Muhammad Al-Waeli, Ali Al-Mawlawi and Hamzeh Hadad discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
Iraqi Voices hosts political analysts Lahib Hagel and Omar Al-Nidawi once again, a year after they joined the podcast to analyse the 2021 early elections, to deconstruct the political developments of the last 12 months and discuss the direction Iraq is headed in
Analysts Muhammad Al-Waeli, Ali Al-Mawlawi and Hamzeh Hadad discuss the latest political developments in Iraq including this week's violence between rival parties that led to tens of deaths in the heart of Baghdad.
Analysts Muhammad Al-Waeli, Ali Al-Mawlawi and Hamzeh Hadad discuss the latest political developments in Iraq including the Sadrist withdrawal from parliament and the struggle over political and religious leadership.
The makers of Iraqi Voices mark six months since the 2021 Iraqi election with a discussion about the key developments and milestones including the political impasse, Supreme Court rulings and more.
On International Women's Day, we discuss developments regarding Iraqi women's rights and Iraq's place in the global Women, Peace & Security agenda with Dr. Yasmin Chilmeran, a postdoctoral fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and an expert on gender and civil society in post-conflict settings.
Dr. Shamiran Mako, assistant professor at the Pardee School of Global Affairs at Boston University, discusses statebuilding in post-2003 Iraq and how legacies of exclusion continue to shape politics today.
Former Member of Parliament Sarkawt Shamsulddin provides unique insights into how Iraq's Parliament really functions, offering anecdotes from his personal interactions with leading powerbrokers, and explains why he thinks young Iraqis need to engage in politics.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States