Advantages and Disadvantages of the Federal System in Iraq: An Analytical Study in Light of the Iraqi Constitution of 2005

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the federal system in Iraq, based on the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, utilizing a descriptive‑analytical approach relying on library and documentary sources. The research finds that despite its potential for distributing power and granting regional autonomy, federalism in Iraq faces major structural, legal, and political challenges, most notably constitutional ambiguity, weak dispute‑resolution mechanisms, and a lack of political will for full implementation. The findings also reveal a tendency toward hidden centralization, which has deepened sectarian and ethnic divisions and threatened national unity. The study concludes that federalism in Iraq is an incomplete transitional system requiring fundamental constitutional and institutional reforms to achieve its goals of stability and justice, while offering practical recommendations in this regard. This study aims to achieve several objectives, most notably: identifying the political, legal, and economic advantages of a federal system in Iraq based on the 2005 Constitution; identifying the structural and implementational shortcomings and challenges hindering the application of federalism in the Iraqi context; and providing a critical analytical perspective on the reality of Iraqi federalism, along with proposing practical reforms to enhance its efficiency and role in achieving stability. To achieve these objectives, the study seeks to answer the following questions: What are the most prominent advantages of a federal system in Iraq? What are the most significant shortcomings and obstacles to its implementation? And what reforms are required to activate this system and make it more efficient?