Shia Militias and Exclusionary Politics In Iraq

• Published in: Middle East policy Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 123 - 133
• Main Author: Levy, Ido
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Middle East Policy Council 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Alliances; Institution building; Islam; Loyalty; Military aid; Military mobilization; Militia groups; Militias; Mobilization; Nationalism; Parliamentary elections; Police; Politics; Sectarianism; Shia Muslims; Terrorism; Terrorist organizations; Iraq
• ISSN: 1061-1924; 1475-4967
• DOI: 10.1111/mepo.12442

Following the May 12, 2018, parliamentary elections in Iraq, the lists of two prominent militia heads have emerged victorious. The Saairoon Alliance came in first, with 54 of the 329 seats, while the Fatah Alliance took second, with 47. Muqtada as-Sadr, the Shia cleric and leader of the militia Saraya as-Salam, and Hadi al-Amiri, commander of the Badr Organization, head Saairoon and Fatah, respectively. These results reflect the widespread support the militias of al-Hashd ash-Shaabi, the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs), have accumulated in their efforts against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization. Some PMUs want to assist the military in restoring the government’s full control over Iraqi territory and even be incorporated into the military and police. Others receive support from Iran and openly proclaim loyalty to its supreme leader. Others still are in it simply to defend their homes against IS. With such variation in the goals of the PMUs, it is unclear what the Iraqi political order will look like in the near future. Now, with former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s list relegated to third place, the question of the PMUs’ role in shaping Iraq’s future has become ever more pressing.This paper illuminates the PMUs’ visions of political order. How do the PMUs affect political order in Iraq? I adapt the structure Magen uses in “On Political Order and the ‘Arab Spring’” as a basis for this paper. First, I discuss the PMUs’ formation and composition. Next, I establish a theoretical framework based on scholar-ship on political order and exclusionary politics. I analyze four orders prevalent in the PMUs: Iraqi nationalist, Shia majoritarian, Khomeinist and sectarian, illuminating essential characteristics for each in turn. I then discuss the possibility of conflict among the PMUs and how it relates to U.S. policy, and conclude by recommending that the United States support the Iraqi nationalist order, to strengthen Iraqi institution building and ward off Iranian influence in the region.