Post-2005 United States’ Grand Strategy towards Iraq: From Shock and Consociational Democracy to War against the Islamic State

Abstract

The Gulf War was projected as a liberal war – waged as a necessary war – in order to remove a tyrant, eliminate terrorism and promote democracy and liberal economic reforms in Iraq. Since then, despite a series of elections and efforts to introduce liberal economic reforms, the country continues to experience political destabilisation and sectarian conflicts. This has culminated in the rise of militant organisations which includes the Islamic State (IS). At the same time, the United States‟ (US) global strategy appears to be undergoing a transformation with evolving ideological discourses seeking to justify a new war against the IS. As a consequence, its Grand Strategy is experiencing modernisation and transformation in warfare, complimented by the growing influence of global corporate organisations on military planning and policymaking. This article presents an analysis of these trends in the perspective of Iraq, and contributes to the broader understanding of US foreign policy towards the Middle East.