Security and Conflict / Policy Brief
Iraq in 2010: The dangers of European complacency
10/02/2010 By Edward Burke
The Iraqi parliamentary elections on 7 March were the most severe test to date of the truce that emerged between the major factions during 2007 and 2008. The banning of Sunni and secular leaders from standing as candidates due to alleged links to the former ruling Ba’ath Party prompted calls for a boycott of the polls.
Although the attention of the international community has moved elsewhere, none of the major obstacles to ending the conflict in Iraq have been surmounted.
Meanwhile the EU’s strategy for Iraq remains hopelessly outdated and its influence in Iraq is virtually non-existent. Opting out of an enhanced role in Iraq undermines the EU’s claim to be a credible contributor to international security.
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Keywords
Asia Civil Military Relations DemocracyRelated publications
Bio author: Edward Burke
Edward Burke analyses political trends in the Persian Gulf region, including the GCC states, Iraq and Yemen. He is currently working on an ongoing project to evaluate the politics of energy in the Middle East. Edward has also undertaken research on civil-military relations and stability operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
