The implications of domestic and foreign factors on the transition process of Shia identity in Iraq after 2003 invasion

After the US invasion, a number of radical changes occurred in the political life of Iraq. One of the most important changes in this process is the politicization of Shi'ism. This concept, which until recently only expressed a belief system, gained a political identity quality after the US invasion. The role of external factors in the construction of Shi'ism as a political identity is very powerful. This period of politicization has had important consequences in both domestic and foreign policy. In particular, the politicization of Shi'ism has radically changed the internal balance of Iraq. The deepening of the social conflict and political division in Iraq is witnessed during this period. Whereas in foreign policy, Tehran's efforts of moving its policy towards Baghdad with its Shiite identity to a different medium are witnessed. In this study, the process of politicizing Shiism as a sectarian identity is discussed from a constructivist point of view. Thus, the internal and external factors that constitute this identity were examined and the place of this identity in the political, economic, social and military life of the country was evaluated since the establishment of Iraq.