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An Iraq of Its Regions: Cornerstones of a Federal Democracy?

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An Iraq of Its Regions: Cornerstones of a Federal Democracy? Reidar Vissar and Gareth Stansfield, eds. Columbia University Press, 2008. 274 pages. $27.50.

Amidst the gains of the surge and the Sunni Arab "Awakening" since mid-2007, some readers might tend to be dismissive of the issues discussed in this comprehensive anthology, focused on the dangers of excessive reliance on ethno-sectarian considerations in fashioning an Iraqi federal system. Yet, as noted by co-author Gareth Stansfield, this publication concentrates on perhaps the most "critical" challenge standing in the way of enduring stability in Iraq today.

Of late, these fundamental political and societal concerns have received insufficient attention from many observers and players alike, some even seduced by the vision of a so-called "victory" in Iraq. Such individuals, unlike the authors, usually lack appreciation for the underlying complexities involved in hammering out political compromises related to governance. Indeed, recent military gains on the ground in Iraq might prove transient if not followed up with great care on the political front. Problems related to these very issues could even lead to what Stansfield correctly warns could be a Lebanon-style paradigm among hostile groups who simply recognize they cannot overwhelm their rivals. And, although contributors to this book thoroughly explore regionalism as a factor that might dilute Iraq's profound ethno-sectarian differences (as it has in a few cases elsewhere), they do not offer excessive encouragement in that respect....

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