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On Monday, March 22 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am ET the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative hosted a discussion surrounding the report, Iraqi Diaspora Mobilization and the Future Development of Iraq. Authored by Dr. Oula Kadhum, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Birmingham, the paper explores Iraqi diaspora mobilization before and after the 2003 invasion and fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein, looking at ways in which members of the diaspora have sought to help in the rebuilding of their country of origin, at both the elite and grassroots levels, as well as investigating changes over time.

The discussion touched on the paper’s key recommendations, considering the obstacles that have hindered diaspora mobilization, beyond the ethno-sectarian system. The conversation featured the author of the paper alongside Amb. Feisal Al-Istrabadi, founding director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and professor of the Practice of International Law and Diplomacy at Indiana University, Bloomington, and Dr. Abbas Kadhim, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council, and moderated by Dr. Marsin Alshamary, postdoctoral research fellow at The Brookings Institute.

The event was open to the press and on the record.

A conversation with

Amb. Feisal Al-Istrabadi
Founding Director, Center for the Study of the Middle East; Professor of the Practice of International Law and Diplomacy, Indiana University, Bloomington

Dr. Abbas Kadhim
Director, Iraq Initiative
Atlantic Council

Dr. Oula Kadhum
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Birmingham

Moderated by

Dr. Marsin Alshamary
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
The Brookings Institute