Nouri Al MalikiEdit
Nouri Kamel al-Maliki is a central figure in modern Iraqi politics, a long-time member of the Islamic Dawa Party who served as Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014. His tenure coincided with a defining era for the country: ongoing insurgency and terrorism, the challenge of building state institutions after the fall of Saddam Hussein, and the emergence of a new political order under the 2005 constitutional framework. Supporters credit him with strengthening the state, safeguarding sovereignty, and delivering counterinsurgency gains, while critics contend his approach fostered centralization and sectarian fault lines that complicated national unity. After leaving the prime ministership following the 2014 elections and the ISIS crisis, Maliki remained a force within Iraqi politics as a senior member of the State of Law Coalition and a continuing influencer among Shia political circles.
Early life and rise
Maliki's career developed within the Islamic Dawa Party, a Shia political movement that has played a major role in post-Saddam Iraqi politics. He spent years in exile during the regime of Saddam Hussein and returned to Iraq after the 2003 Iraq War, where he quickly rose through the ranks of the new political order. In the wake of the U.S.-led occupation, Maliki and his party built a governance platform centered on security, order, and the defense of national sovereignty, positioning themselves as credible stewards of a fragile yet expanding Iraqi state.
Prime ministership (2006-2014)
Background and coalition-building
Following the 2005 elections, Maliki emerged as a key leader within a governing coalition that sought to stabilize Iraq's political system under the new constitutional settlement. He eventually became Prime Minister in 2006, heading a government backed by the State of Law Coalition and allied parties. The early years of his tenure were marked by a concerted effort to restore basic governance, rebuild public services, and push back against insurgent networks that had eroded the legitimacy of the state. The administration received and managed support from the United States and other coalition partners as it pursued a comprehensive approach to security, governance, and reconstruction in a country that remained precarious on multiple fronts.
Governance and security policy
A central priority of Maliki's government was to reinforce the sovereign authority of the Iraqi state while expanding essential security capabilities. He oversaw a push to professionalize the security apparatus, improve logistical capacity, and establish a clearer chain of command within the Iraqi Security Forces to combat various insurgent and extremist threats. The administration emphasized counterterrorism, judiciary reforms, and efforts to restore public order, aiming to create conditions under which business activity and public investment could resume.
Bilateral and regional dimensions
Maliki's approach reflected the realities of a heavily factional political landscape and a regional security environment shaped by Iran and neighboring states. His government sought to balance cooperation with external partners—most notably the United States and its coalition partners—with the need to preserve Iraqi sovereignty and avoid appearing as a proxy actor for any single external power. This balancing act shaped how state institutions were staffed, how security decisions were made, and how Iraq navigated relationships with regional actors.
Sunni politics, protests, and controversy
A persistent source of tension during Maliki's years was the perception among many Sunnis that the state tilted toward Shia political interests. The period saw significant Sunni protests and political mobilization across central and western provinces, and elements within the government were accused of taking a hard line against dissent. In 2011-2012, the government pursued cases against Sunni political figures, including engagements surrounding high-profile figures such as Tariq al-Hashemi, which many Sunni communities viewed as part of a broader pattern of marginalization. The resulting political strain contributed to a fracturing of trust between the central government and segments of the population across Sunni Islam communities, complicating efforts to achieve nationwide consensus on security, governance, and reform.
ISIS and the 2014 shift
The security environment deteriorated dramatically in 2014 as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) launched a broad offensive that overwhelmed Iraqi forces in several provinces, including a rapid advance that led to the capture of Mosul and large areas of the country's north and west. Critics argue that Maliki's centralization of power and confrontational style undermined the credibility and cohesion of security institutions, contributing to the disarray that allowed ISIS to capitalize on political and sectarian grievances. The rapid ISIS advances precipitated a political realignment in Baghdad, and in 2014 Haider al-Abadi became prime minister, inaugurating a new phase in Iraqi governance aimed at broadening participation and recalibrating security strategy. Maliki, nonetheless, remained a significant figure within the State of Law Coalition and the broader Shia political establishment, where his supporters framed his tenure as a period of determined national sovereignty and anti-terrorist effort.
Post-premiership and legacy
In the years following his tenure as prime minister, Maliki maintained influence as a senior participant in Iraqi politics, shaping debates within the Shia political sphere and within parties aligned with the State of Law Coalition. His legacy is debated: adherents emphasize state-building, counterterrorism gains, and the defense of Iraqi sovereignty, while detractors stress the consequences of power consolidation and sectarian dynamics that they argue undermined broad-based national unity. The broader political arc he helped to shape—between centralized governance, security-first policy, and the challenge of reconciling diverse communities—remains central to discussions of how Iraq navigated transitional governance in the post-2003 era.
See-also notes