Mustafa al-Kadhimi
Former Iraqi Prime Minister

Iraq: ‘Butterfly Effect’ in State Governance

Sixty-six years have passed since the 14 July Revolution in 1958, an event that still sparks debate among Iraqis. Some support the shift to a republic, while others argue a monarchy is better for Iraq’s complexities. While I won’t judge the event itself, its deep-rooted causes, or its aftermath,…

Back in Memory...What Did We do Past Dictatorship?

Twenty-one years have passed since the return to peaceful Baghdad, after a forced absence that lasted more than a decade and a half. I remember those moments well, as if they were days ago. A feeling that words cannot describe. It’s like I was reborn... I returned to Iraq a few days after April 9…

Need of Transparency for Comprehensive Reconciliation

Before I assumed national responsibility as Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, I recalled many questions that I had carried with me since my forced exile until my return in mid-2003, through all the stages that followed, all the way to the legitimate popular protests in October 2019. There…

Between Political Ethics and State-Building: Separation is Misguided, We Should Bring Them Together

The question of the relationship between ethics and politics, or political action is among the deepest controversies about governance and the most difficult dilemmas rulers must confront. The debate and search for an answer began as soon as humanity engaged in politics, as this question about the…

The New Levant... the Opportunity Remains

Two years ago, almost to the day, the world’s attention turned to Baghdad amid its efforts to further peace. It held an exceptional summit at an exceptional time. Overcoming deep polarization was its agenda, as my brothers and I, alongside the rulers of neighboring countries, worked tirelessly to…

From Hotbed of Conflicts and Confrontations to Field of Regional Cooperation and Integration

The crises, wars and conflicts, which are undermining peace and stability in the world, are also threatening the Middle East and Arab world that are hotbeds for tensions and constant confrontations. The tensions are expected to deepen given the series of conflicts that have accumulated over the…

Reestablishing Trust Is a Historical Necessity

First, we must affirm that, to reestablish trust among Middle Eastern states as a basis, and, on the other hand, trust between our region and the rest of the world is not an easy task. This would not seem such an intractable problem had it not been for the complexities surrounding the region and…