Abstract
Since the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country has come to be viewed as a focal point of ethno-sectarian violence and conflict. Given the United States’ involvement with the re- structuring of the Iraqi government after the fall of Saddam Hussein, and their engagement in the country even after the full withdrawal of American troops from Iraq in December 2011, many policy makers, think tank analysts, journalists, human rights groups, and academic scholars weighed in on a broad dialogue over what should happen with Iraq’s political and societal future. This issue remains significant as Iraqi politicians attempt to hold a fledgling government together through the face of a continued insurgency in the country. Power sharing among the main religious factions and ethnicities in the country remains, for many, a major concern and consideration although the probability of true power sharing within the government seems less and less likely. Whatever the political outcome in Iraq, discussing demographic patterns and trends in the country is a difficult endeavor given the continuing conflict there. Estimates of Iraq’s overall population today range from 28.92 to 33 million people. Because of the current context, however, the demography of ethnicity in Iraq is rapidly shifting. This chapter thus attempts to trace the historical roots of Iraq’s demographic and ethnic makeup as well as looking at its current demographic character and changes taking place. Finally, it explores the linkages and disputes surrounding ethnicity, sectarianism, and demography in Iraq.
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Ulack, C. (2015). Demography of Race and Ethnicity in Iraq. In: Sáenz, R., Embrick, D., Rodríguez, N. (eds) The International Handbook of the Demography of Race and Ethnicity. International Handbooks of Population, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8891-8_19
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