tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post8788562385461624240..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Report Finds Iraq A Hybrid DemocracyJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-53233858090680775552011-01-19T20:16:27.887-08:002011-01-19T20:16:27.887-08:00I know about the conflict between Fatah and Hamas ...I know about the conflict between Fatah and Hamas and how that has delayed elections, but I don't know the rest of the story.<br /><br />The authors of the democracy report said that elections were only the most visible sign of democracy, and that they were going to count the other factors more. <br /><br />So for example, Iraq has a wide range of news outlets, but most of them are controlled by political parties, are full of rumors, do little to no investigative reporting, and both Baghdad and the KRG have tried to limit them recently. Is the Palestinian press better or worse? In Palestine you have two competing entities in Fatah and Hamas who control their own territories. In Iraq there is no real opposition. The Change list was the first time a winning party decided not to be part of the winning coalition. How many social groups operate in Palestine? What was the voter turnout? In Iraq the premier has little to no checks and balances on his authority, how does that compare to Palestine's executive? I can't answer those questions so I don't know whether the comparison in the study had problems or not.<br /><br />Just looking at the scores the reason why Iraq was at the bottom of hybrid democracies overall was because it received a 0.79 on governance, and I don't really have an issue with that given how dysfunctional Baghdad is.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-36098209019002520602011-01-19T19:43:38.603-08:002011-01-19T19:43:38.603-08:00Well a quick google will refresh you that in 2007 ...Well a quick google will refresh you that in 2007 Hamas chucked the PA out of Gaza and since then it has been impossible for the PA to hold either presidential or general elections. Which makes 7.83/4.33 very odd indeed.<br /><br />And also raises questions over Palestine rating 8.33 for political participation and 4.38 political culture while Iraq only manages 6.11 and 3.75 by comparison. <br /><br />On the face of it ridiculous, and makes one wonder about the other countries in the "hybrid democracy" category where Iraq has been consigned to the bottom.bbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-48437441751522789722011-01-19T18:46:24.170-08:002011-01-19T18:46:24.170-08:00bb,
I don't know enough about the Palestinian...bb,<br /><br />I don't know enough about the Palestinian Authority to make a good comparison with Iraq over their electoral process.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-26338779648794425142011-01-19T15:10:07.038-08:002011-01-19T15:10:07.038-08:00It is rather strange, don't you think, that Pa...It is rather strange, don't you think, that Palestine scores 7.83 on electoral process and pluralism when it hasn't had an election since January 06 and has long passed the deadline when the next election was supposed to be held? And that Iraq only scores 4.33 in this category?bbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-70365131488593148492011-01-16T02:29:55.196-08:002011-01-16T02:29:55.196-08:00I think the crucial test will be whether the next ...I think the crucial test will be whether the next election is free and fair.Don Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11232752398252841794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-34480850518749347672011-01-15T18:40:45.524-08:002011-01-15T18:40:45.524-08:00Hey I heard about the report from your site!
We c...Hey I heard about the report from your site!<br /><br />We can only hope that Iraq's government improves. I'm afraid that this generation of leaders may be a detriment. Most importantly, we have to see how Maliki rules in his 2nd term.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-38218273249119824762011-01-15T16:51:42.736-08:002011-01-15T16:51:42.736-08:00Great summary, Joel. I bet in four years Iraq will...Great summary, Joel. I bet in four years Iraq will have a score closer to Israel's thank Kuwait's.Iraqi Mojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14348791832474839472noreply@blogger.com