19 March، 2026
On the 19th anniversary of the change of the political system in Iraq, Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) held a virtual discussion seminar on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The event, titled "Iraq Since 2003: The Proliferation of Crises, Absence of Solutions, and Fragmentation of National Identity," featured a number of academics, specialists, and practitioners in political and social affairs:

1.     Dr. Khalid Abdul-Ilah: Dean of the College of Political Science, Al-Mustansiriya University.

2.     Dr. Adel al-Budeiri: Dean of the College of Political Science, University of Baghdad.

3.     Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh: Politician and former ambassador.

4.     Dr. Ali al-Madan: Writer and researcher in political and social affairs.

Dr. Khalid Abdul-Ilah spoke first, discussing the stages and milestones of the Iraqi state since its founding. He addressed the controversy surrounding the 2003 change—whether it was a liberation or an occupation—and the subsequent disputes among the ruling political forces, their vision for a post-change Iraq, the establishment of the sectarian apportionment system (muhasasa), and other problems that have beset Iraq since the change.

Dr. al-Budeiri addressed the structural problems that have accompanied state-building since 2003, emphasizing that they require serious steps to be resolved. He clarified how to begin the reform process needed to lift the state out of its quagmire of crises and discussed the impact of internal and external dimensions in either supporting or derailing the democratic experiment.

In his lecture, Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh traced the paths of the political process, highlighting the missed opportunities that could have been utilized for state-building and citizen development. He identified the most prominent files and problems that have worsened since 2003 and presented a reading of what Iraq's diplomacy and foreign relations ought to be.

The lecture by Dr. Ali al-Madan centered on the features that have coincided with the post-2003 political process and how they have contributed to the worsening of the Iraqi political situation over the past years. He highlighted the American failure to read the political geography of the Iraqi people and the nature of the political forces that came to power after 2003. He also discussed the most important consequences produced by these two factors. He pointed to the significant changes affecting the political process after the October (Tishreen) Protests and the last elections, as well as the key challenges awaiting the rising political forces.