Reflection of Sunni - Shiite rivalry on political structure: Post - 2003 period

In this study, the effect of Sunni-Shiite rivalry on political structuring in Iraq, which is one of the deepest and most severely affected countries in the Middle East, will be examined. In this frame, historical processes and physical conditions which is the basis of this competitive environment and the diverging and overlapping aspects of Sunni and Shiite politics will be discussed. In the light of historical and geographical information, the political events in Iraq during the post-2003 period will be included and the basic dynamics of the newly formed political structure, the actors in this political structure, the relations of actors with each other and with other states will be tried to be understood. In particular, the process of constitution making and election alliances will be examined and the link between sects and politics will be discussed. The thesis will be tried to understand the responses of the people to sectarian discourses by referring to the election results. Furthermore, the political change created by the Arab Spring and the development of a terrorist organization such as DAESH will be discussed, and the attitude of Sunnis and Shiites in the process of fighting DAESH will be evaluated. With the political and military gap created by the withdrawal of US troops after 2003, the changing demands of the people and changing discourses of political actors will be included and some suggestions will be given to manage this competition without turning into violence.