Iraq, 10 years on: Looking back, looking forward

Ten years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the country continues to teeter on the brink, suffering from ongoing political turmoil, violence and an inability to improve the livelihood of its people. Prime Minster Maliki has increasingly centralised power in his own hands. As civil war now deepens in neighbouring Syria, Maliki has positioned Iraq in support of Bashar al-Assad, unlike much of the country’s Sunni population, and fears are growing of new sectarian unrest.

During this panel discussion, the speakers will reflect on Iraq’s journey over the past ten years, widening concerns at the country’s current trajectory, as well as its regional influence. The question of how Western intervention has impacted its regional influence and ability to play a positive political and military role will also be explored. 

Sir Jeremy Greenstock is the former UK Special Envoy for Iraq and currently serves as the Chairman of the UN Association in the UK and Chairman of the strategic advisory company Gatehouse Advisory Partners Ltd. Jeremy was a career diplomat developing specialisations in the Middle East, Transatlantic Relations and the United Nations. He served as Political Director in London and as UK Ambassador to the UN in New York.

Dr Toby Dodge is Deputy Director of LSE IDEAS and a Reader in the International Relations Department at the LSE. His research work concentrates on the state in the Middle East, specifically Iraq. His most recent book, Iraq: from war to a new authoritarianism, was published in early 2013.

Hayder al-Khoei is a researcher at the Centre for Academic Shi'a Studies in London. He writes widely on Iraqi affairs in publications including Foreign Affairs and the Guardian.

Daniel Levy is the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at ECFR. He is also a Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation, founding co-editor of foreignpolicy.com’s Middle East channel and board member of the New Israel Fund.