Programs

The Iraq Initiative provides transatlantic and regional policy makers with unique perspectives and analysis on the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing Iraq as the country tries to build an inclusive political system, attract economic investment, and encourage a vibrant civil society.

Top experts

Content

In the News

Aug 2, 2017

Alfoneh in Middle East Institute: Competing Iraqi Shiite Militias: Tehran’s Design or Strategic Blunder?

By Ali Alfoneh

Read the full article here.

Iran Iraq

In the News

Aug 2, 2017

Hellyer in The National: Britain Must Deal with the Shadows of the Iraq War

By H.A. Hellyer

Read the full article here.

Iraq United Kingdom

In the News

Jul 23, 2017

Alfoneh in The Arab Weekly: Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces, a State Within the State

By Ali Alfoneh

Read the full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Jul 10, 2017

Wormuth Quoted in Military.com on Iraqi Security Forces

By Christine Wormuth

Read the full article here.

Iraq

In the News

Jul 10, 2017

Khoury Quoted in Gulf News on Cost of Daesh Rule

By Nabeel Khoury

Read the full article here.

Iraq

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2017

The Islamic State’s New Realities

By Giorgio Cafiero and Daniel Wagner

The combined efforts of a host of international and regional state and non-state actors against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) have reduced the so-called caliphate’s control of Mosul to one district and surrounded its fighters in Raqqa, resulting in more of ISIS’ militants fleeing Iraq and Syria and fewer foreign fighters joining […]

Iraq

In the News

Jun 21, 2017

Mardini in the Washington Post: The Kurdish Region of Iraq is Going to Vote on Independence. Here’s What You Need to Know.

By Ramzy Mardini

Read the full article here.

Iraq

MENASource

Jun 19, 2017

Report Summary “Wilting in the Kurdish Sun: The Hopes and Fears of Religious Minorities in Northern Iraq”

By Emelie Chace-Donahue

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently published its 2017 report on Iraqi Kurdistan, for which the commission conducted in-field interviews with minority community leaders and spokesmen over several months. The report highlights the successes of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in upholding the freedoms of its religious and ethnic minorities yet also […]

Iraq

Future of Iraq Taskforce

Jun 6, 2017

The Role of Decentralization in Combatting Extremist Influence in Iraq

By Todd Diamond

Many governance experts see decentralization as a potential model to mitigate political and sectarian challenges in Syria, Libya, and Iraq and improve livelihoods in those countries by restoring basic services to local populations. But in countries with a long history of absolute control, central government officials frequently resist any reforms seen as weakening their influence, […]

Iraq

Future of Iraq Taskforce

May 31, 2017

Atlantic Council Launches the Final Report of the Task Force on the Future of Iraq

By Atlantic Council

WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council releases today the report of the Task Force on the Future of Iraq chaired by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and convened by Senior Nonresident Fellow Dr. Nussaibah Younis.

Iraq

Experts