The Ingredients of a Stable Democratic Iraq

The United States Government is trying to determine how to help Iraq achieve stability. There are many proposed solutions, but a central question behind all of these solutions asks, "Should the United States promote political stability or should promote democratic reform?"1 This statement leads the reader to conclude that regime type is the determining factor for a country to attain stability. This statement also makes the assertion that a democratic regime and political stability cannot co-exist in Iraq. I intend to show that should a civil society flourish in Iraq, then a democratic regime will establish strong roots, and these two variables together will lead to stability. Furthermore, if a civil society exists, it is not necessary to trade democratic principles for an authoritarian regime. Therefore, I propose that the United States can help establish a stable Iraq by focusing on increasing the level of civil society within a democratic regime. Doing this will stabilize Iraq and provide for a better state of peace.