Iraq’s rich social composition includes various ethnic and religious groups. Arabs constitute the majority of the country’s population, whileother ethnic groups such as Kurds and Turkmens also represent significant portions. On the religious side, there are diverse belief groups, particularly Shiite and Sunni Muslims, along with minorities including Christians, Yazidis, Shabaks, and others. Although this diversity contributes Iraq’s cultural richness, it has also paved the way for ethnic and sectarian tensions throughout history, especially, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Regime in 2003. Conflicts between identity groups have become one of the main threats to the stability and social cohesion of the country.
The post-2003 trend of the increasing influence of identity politics has significantly intensified in recent years. This trend has become an important factor deeply affecting the political and social structure of the country. First, in the post-2003 period, identity-based political structures have grown stronger and become institutionalized within the state mechanisms. This process has increased the political representation of ethnic and sectarian identities but has made the construction of a national identity more difficult. Second, the fact that the laws adopted in the Iraqi Parliament are organized to serve the interests of certain identity groups demonstrates the influence of identity politics on legislative processes. Third, rivalries and conflicts within identity groups indicate that identity politics has deepened not only between different ethnic and sectarian communities but also within the same identity group. Finally, the emerging crisis and tensions in the region act as a multiplier for identity-based tensions in Iraq. This situation illustrates the rise of identity politics as a growing threat to the country’s political stability.
