How power-sharing endures: generational change and institutional persistence in Iraq

Palani, Kamaran ORCID: 0000-0002-4463-0085 (2025) How power-sharing endures: generational change and institutional persistence in Iraq. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. ISSN 1353-7113

Text (How Power-Sharing Endures Generational Change and Institutional Persistence in Iraq) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB)

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Abstract

This article examines how Iraq’s ethno-sectarian power-sharing system has continued despite significant generational change since 2003. Drawing on an online survey alongside structured group discussions and interviews in Baghdad and Erbil, it shows that three interacting ­mechanisms—identity reconfiguration, legitimacy erosion, and priority divergence—fragment reform coalitions and reinforce elite incentives for institutional continuity. The findings revealed a paradox: although majorities across ethno-sectarian communities oppose identity-based political parties, voting patterns remain largely communal due to electoral design and institutional constraints that entrench elite interdependence. The study contributes to consociational theory by integrating temporal and generational dimensions, offering insights into institutional endurance in deeply divided societies and the challenges of political transformation in post-conflict settings.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 The Author
Divisions:	Middle East Centre
Subjects:	J Political Science H Social Sciences
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2025 08:39
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2025 07:33
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/129431

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