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Polling Insights on Iraq's Shia Revolt

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Munqith Dagher and Karl Kaltenthaler - Iraq's Shia majority is protesting its Shia-dominated government. Iraq's political system is deeply riven by corruption, fails to treat the average Iraqi citizen with respect, and cannot provide basic services like clean water and electricity, much less education and healthcare. The economy is in shambles and a very large portion of Shia youth are unemployed. Polling by IIACSS found that while Sunni Iraqis have become more optimistic after the defeat of ISIS, Shia Iraqis are increasingly pessimistic about a political system that had promised so much but delivered so little. Unfavorable views toward Iran among Iraqi Shia have grown substantially over the last five years. In 2014, 86% had a favorable view of Iran, while in 2019 that dropped to 41%. Munqith Dagher is CEO of the Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS) in Baghdad. Karl Kaltenthaler is a Professor of Political Science and Director of Security Studies at the University of Akron.
2019-11-11 00:00:00
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