About us The Iraq Democracy papers Library English Arabic
     
   
   
 

Collected writings on the ideas and practice of democracy.

Volume 1: Protecting Freedom, Preventing Despotism

 
 

 

How can Iraqis prevent the return of tyranny and human rights violations? Writings by Al-Kawakiby, An-Naini and Montesquieu discuss institutional mechanisms for preventing despotism; Haider Ibrahim looks at the roots of despotism in the Arab world; and case studies from Eastern Europe and South Africa examine the issues that Constitutions should address.

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Volume 2: Ethnic & Religious Co-Existence

 
 

 

How can a new Iraq emerge in which its diversity is a source of strength, not division? How can group identities be recognized without undermining national cohesion? This volume examine issues such as   individual rights, decentralization and federalism, and the relationship between religion and state in a democracy.

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Volume 3: Accountability: Ensuring the Government Serves the People

 

How will Iraqis keep a check on their government?  What are the responsibilities of citizens to ensure that their leaders do not abuse their powers?   This volume describes mechanisms and institutions that the public can use to hold their leaders accountable, and includes case studies on how citizens in other countries have fought corruption.

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Volume 4: Representation


 

The definition of "representation" is a dynamic one. People have many identities, including their ethnic, religious, and even their political or other interests. How can Iraqis make sure their government is one that reflects their diverse interests and identities without exacerbating differences between different groups and leading to sectarianism? Volume 4 explores how political parties, different types of electoral system and the way parliamentary seats are allocated affect the government's success in representing the Iraqi people.

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Volume 5: Women & Democracy


 

Increasingly in Iraq today, and in many other Muslim countries, women's groups, human rights groups, NGOs, political parties, the media, and concerned individuals are beginning to speak up to engage publicly in a debate on the role of religion in politics. As Iraq develops its democracy, it will deal with issues such as: Is Islam compatible with democracy? Should Iraqis allow the state legislate on morality? How have women in other countries contributed to their economies? Can women participate in the political process, and what characteristics are important? How will Iraqi women deal with the new universal morality of democracy, of human rights, of women's rights, and where is the woman's place in the modern democratic Iraq?

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Volume 6: Commentaries on the Iraqi Constitution


 

The final reader is a compilation of commentaries on the Iraqi constitution. Selections feature the works of various constitutional scholars such as Nathan Brown and Paul Marshall, and select from the
works of over 50 wide ranging community representatives, including secular Iraqis, Muslims, Christians, Mandeans, women, jurists and economists. The issues addressed include many topics including: How has the constitution dealt with the issue of religion? How do we deal with the conflict between constitutional provisions of fundamental liberties and equality, and religious laws and policies that violate these provisions? Has the constitution treated the issue of women's rights fairly? How can the constitution be amended in the future to address more needs?

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The Iraq Democracy Papers is a dialogue on democracy that draws from the literature of different eras and cultures (Arabic, Islamic, Western, Asian). The series is intended to feed the debate in Iraq about democracy, by examining how the core principles of democracy have been implemented in other countries. Commentaries by Iraqi writers examine how the writings apply to Iraq.

 
 

The "Iraq Democracy Papers" is published by the Center for Liberty in the Middle East. Articles may be reproduced for distribution in Iraq with an attribution to "The Iraq Democracy Papers, a publication of the Center for Liberty in the Middle East, www.mideastliberty.org ," unless they carry explicit copyright restrictions in which case permission must be sought from the copyright holders.

 
 

Our International Advisory Board includes a broad range of experts in democracy and the politics of Iraq.

  EDUCATIONAL LINKS
A growing list of vital information and links for education about democracy and the democratic process