Files and links (1)
Jabbouri Dissertation Final Copy2.23 MB
Embargoed Access, Embargo ends: 01/01/2076
Dissertation
The Role of Leadership in Fueling Ethnic Divisions: The Case of Iraq
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005383
Abstract
This research study identifies the role of extremely self-interested subgroup leaders in fueling ethnic and sectarian divisions as a gap in the literature with respect to why Iraq is not a true democracy today. The existing literature frames the conflict in Iraq mainly in terms of ethnic and sectarian divisions with a focus on the three dominant subgroups—Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds. Therefore, the proposed solutions have focused on how to allocate and divide resources and power among these three subgroups. However, this assessment is flawed because it reduces the diversity of Iraq to only three subgroups when there are countless other ethnic and religious subgroups. More importantly, none of the subgroups, including the three dominant ones, are homogenous in and of themselves. Consequently, it is important to closely examine the different factions within each of the three dominant subgroups. More specifically, this dissertation uses qualitative and quantitative methods including content analysis and a survey to investigate the behavior of Iraqi leaders in positions of power, the way they view each other within their own subgroups, and whether those same images are consistent with how Iraqis at large view their fellow citizens from other subgroups. The results of this study provide strong support for the idea that the current Iraqi leaders exhibit extreme self-interested behavior. Therefore, they do not view the other leaders within their own subgroups as an ally. In addition, the results also suggest that Iraqis are not as severely divided as their leaders and the media may portray them. The implication of these results is that a united and prosperous Iraq is possible if meaningful ways of interaction between the subgroups are further fostered in a truly democratic system that respects the rule of law and protects the equality of opportunity.
Metrics
25 File views/ downloads
192 Record Views
Details
- Title
- The Role of Leadership in Fueling Ethnic Divisions
- Creators
- Fidaa Jabbouri
- Contributors
- Martha Cottam (Advisor)Thomas Preston (Advisor)Travis Ridout (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 406
- Identifiers
- 99901031440101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation