The fall of the Ba’ath regime in 2003 marked a turning point — but not a liberation. Iraq’s transitional process was marred by rushed constitutional drafting, exclusionary politics, and the dismantling of state institutions. Instead of justice, Iraq inherited a system of patronage, where loyalty trumped law, and foreign influence shaped domestic governance.
This legacy has produced a captured state: one where judges fear politicians, activists face execution, and whistleblowers are silenced. The absence of a binding covenant between the ruler and the people has allowed power to operate unchecked. The Governance Contract Act seeks to correct this foundational flaw — by placing the people at the center of authority, and law above all.
About the Author
