Iraqi Public Rejects Iranian Model: But Wants Major Role for Islam in Government

Abstract

Given the Shiite majority in Iraq, some have worried that the Iraqi electorate may vote in representatives that would institute a governmental system modeled on its Shiite neighbor Iran. Polling conducted over the last year, however, indicates that Iraqis clearly reject the Iranian model. At the same time, Iraqis want religion to play a major role in the new Iraqi government: support is strong for Iraq to be an explicitly Muslim state and for clerics to play an important advisory role. But this is all in the context of very strong support for Iraq being a democracy and for non-Muslims having the right to practice their rel