{"id":54029,"date":"2022-09-02T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T13:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pardeeschool\/?p=54029"},"modified":"2022-09-07T10:13:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T14:13:42","slug":"mako-comments-on-instability-in-iraq-and-path-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pardeeschool\/2022\/09\/02\/mako-comments-on-instability-in-iraq-and-path-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Mako Comments on Instability in Iraq and Path Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In an interview with The World<\/em>, Shamiran Mako<\/a>, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Boston University\u2019s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, discusses the departure of Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr from politics and the ensuing fallout in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instability has wracked Iraq for the past year as the country struggles to form a government. In the latest catalyst to the crisis, Al-Sadr announced he is resigning from politics altogether. Following the announcement, protesters occupied the Green Zone – the center of international presence in Baghdad – resulting in more than 30 deaths.<\/p>\n

Mako calls these recent protests the culmination of a “rift between al-Sadr and other established political elites in Iraq.” She warns that if the country’s political tensions continue or there is not a negotiated settlement, Iraq could inch closer to civil war.<\/p>\n

Mako’s comments can be listened to below. A full transcript of the audio can be read on\u00a0The World<\/em>‘s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n