Iraq: Years of Post-Saddam internal and external developments

Abstract

The article analyses political and economic processes in Iraq after the demise of Saddam Hussein's regime, evaluates the efficiency of post-war reconstruction of this Arab country in security and economic fields, singles out the reasons behind the civil war between Sunni and Shia followers, explains the paradox of semi-independent status of Iraqi Kurdistan as well as foreign policy of official Baghdad towards important neighbours - Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant capitalizing on sectarian divide and an attempt of Iraqi leadership to neutralize this threat also has become the part of analysis.