State-Reconstruction: Iraq after ISIS as a Case Study

Abstract

The political turbulence, the power vacuum, and the security challenges that emerged in post- ISIS Iraq changed and shifted the state's power structure. Iraqi security apparatus and military institutions in 2014 almost collapsed and could not resist the challenges they faced from ISIS. Simultaneously, Grand Shia cleric Sistani issued a fatwa, called to arms for Shiites, and fought for their survival. In this disordered situation, an increasing number of Iran-backed armed groups have started to manage security challenges, most of which operate independently outside Iraq's national security agencies. The most important group was the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), from Iraq's Shia community. PMF is gradually convoluted in Iraq's financial affairs and political system and wields tremendous influence. There are two consequential types of militias in Iraq: Al-Atabat al-Muqadasa paramilitary (AAMP) and Loyalist militias (LM). In May 2021, four divisions of (AAMP) decided to integrate into the Iraqi army, while (LM) has almost 70 different divisions and has not integrated into the government’s institutions. In this paper, we look at the possibility of implementing the DDR model for post-war societies such as Iraqi and the obstacles that faced it. Integrating these armed groups became a complicated task for the Iraq Post-ISIS state. First, we look at the history of the state-building process. Then, we develop a conceptual framework for the article. Third, we identify the factors that shape DDR outcomes, define the role of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and analyze how their activities became an obstacle to rebuilding the Iraqi state in the post-ISIS era.