The impact of political alienation on the democratic experience in Iraq”

Abstract

This study seeks to clarify the experience of democratic transition in Iraq after 2003, which became a pivotal moment in the country's modern political history. The new regime was built on supposedly democratic foundations, manifested in party pluralism, the peaceful transfer of power, freedom of expression, and political participation. However, this experience faced structural, security, and social challenges, resulting in a state of political alienation between citizens and the political system. This was reflected in declining levels of participation, weak trust in institutions, and a growing sense of separation from the public sphere. This research focuses on analyzing the most prominent features of this alienation by tracking indicators of electoral abstention, declining engagement with political parties, and weak trust in democratic institutions, such as the legislature, judiciary, and media. This study also seeks to provide an analytical reading that links these indicators to their political and social contexts, to understand how political alienation has contributed to weakening the Iraqi democratic experience and undermining its prospects for development