Samenvatting

This paper provides an overview of the United States policy and its potential results in Iraq. The objective of this research is to establish to what extent has the ambitious US plan for the introduction of democracy in Iraq been accomplished. At the heart of the study lies the question of the effectiveness of US engagement in the emerging Iraqi state structure. The paper is, therefore, expected to contribute to and enrich the debate regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the United States in their struggle to conduct successful regime transition in Iraq. The results of the study are of considerable significance as they highlight the remaining challenges facing democracy advocates as well as set democratic promotion in the broader context of the Middle East.
The research provides specific results in terms of democracy promotion as it is applicable solely to the current situation in Iraq. As the research unfolds, it becomes clear that it is impossible to reach a consensus on the right tactic for democratic promotion. However, the results presented herein should prove valuable to those committed to promotion of democracy in Iraq as they contribute to identification of some of the current key determinants to democratic transition in Iraqs environment. Several fields are identified in which improvement of US actions seems indispensible. These include security, regional and central government, womens status, education and coexistence of sectarian and ethnic groups. It is made clear that the United States cannot refrain from providing democratic support before the long-term process of democratic embracement is fully conducted. Early withdrawal of US commitment to democratic promotion would possibly result in Iraqs slide back to autocracy or an outbreak of a large-scale ethnic conflict. Finally, the study indicates a lurking danger associated with US overreliance on its domestic democracy-related values and its desire to maintain US protectorate in Iraq.