“Dynasticism,” predation and the long history of the Iraqi civil war

The latest parliamentary elections in Iraq, followed by the painstakingly slow process of forming a new government, which is still ongoing, have done little to resolve the deep political crisis that has gripped the country for nearly two decades.

Iraqi Civil Wars: The Principle of All-out Vengeance

Vengeance is one of the most common forms of violence in weak or failed states. In the unique context of Iraq, the principle of vengeance is a recurring element that Myriam Benraad describes as the "guiding principle of successive civil wars”. However, vengeance as the primary dynamic of the violent process raging in the country has received only cursory attention. This research paper aims to reassert to the principle of vengeance in its central function. It acts as an infernal trap of ceaseless and increasingly cruel reprisals within the Iraqi civil wars.

What Does Mark Savaya Reveal About the Iraqi-American Relationship?

The appointment of Mark Savaya on 19 October 2025 as the United States’ Special Envoy to Iraq by the second Trump administration has left no one indifferent. It signals an effort to strengthen the Iraqi–American relationship at a moment when the Middle East is undergoing an unprecedented succession of upheavals. Officially, the purpose of this appointment is to facilitate diplomatic relations between the two countries, promote Iraq’s stability, and support its political as well as economic reconstruction. Unofficially, Washington seeks to counter the ambitions of increasingly omnipotent Shiite militias, most of which remain closely tied to Iran and largely operate beyond the control of the Iraqi state. In recent weeks, many observers have commented on Savaya’s Iraqi roots and personal ties to the region. But will that suffice to bridge the gap that still separates Washington and Baghdad after decades of military confrontation, sanctions, and a protracted occupation from which Iraq continues to struggle to recover? Does Mark Savaya’s appointment truly reflect a desire to help restore Iraq and rebuild its sovereignty, or does it rather constitute an attempt at re-vassalage, as his critics claim? Above all, what does this appointment reveal about an Iraqi-American relationship currently undergoing recomposition at both a contextual level - within Iraq’s immediate geopolitical environment - and an historical level - if one traces its main contours?