The Issue of Democratization and Habitual Political Culture in Iraq After 2003

Research Title:

The issue of democratization and habitual political culture in Iraq after2003

Definition of the research:

With the establishment of the Iraqi State, the structure of its authority and modern institutions have faced with a pre-modern habitual political culture that has materialized in a form of closed-tribal culture that by itself, consequently, impeded the realization of an institutionalized democratic and stable political system. Accordingly, the Iraqi people(s) have been facing many crisis and tragic catastrophes. Since the occupation of Iraq and altering its political system in 2003, the efforts of re-structuring the state and its institutions have been challenged by many obstacles: while some are new, others are thought to be rooted in the very structure of the Iraqi society. New obstacles present itself in the form of "Terrorism" and "Meddling" in the Iraqi internal affairs by the neighboring countries. However, the main obstacle is identified inside the country which is the widespread habitual political culture in Iraq.

Depending on the scientific theories of political culture and democratization, this research attempts to analyze the cultural impediments on the way to democratization in Iraq which can be identified as: obedience to the traditional values and habits, absolutism, rejecting diversity of ideas and political and cultural pluralism, ironically, in a plural society (cultural, ethnic, religious and gender plurality), and finally fearing and distrusting different and modern values and cultures. Furthermore, through identifying those cultural obstacles and impediments on the way of democratization, the research aims at highlighting the possibilities and opportunities of democratization in Iraq by suggesting the mechanisms of overcoming those obstacles.

Research Questions:

Can an institutionalized and effective democratic system be established in a society that is overwhelmed by non-democratic habitual political culture? Or the culture of the society should be changed and adjusted with the principles of democracy? How can this be done? Can a society democratize without support from the outside? How can the outside support be effective and useful in succeeding the democratization process? Can a democratic system be borrowed from abroad and directly applied in such a society as in Iraq? How can a non democratic political culture be adjusted to democratic principles? Can it be done through internal radical changes? Or gradual reform might be more helpful?

Then, how the culture of a society