By Tahseen Wsu Abdullah
The concept of deep state or state within a state is one of the most common terms to describe unelected governing bodies that control the fate of the state, such as the army, parties, companies, businessmen and media. This provides an opportunity for these informal agencies to direct the activities of official state institutions and influence their political, economic and security decisions.
The deep state in Iraq is widely discussed at the level of the political, media and popular elite, as a clear indication that there are other parties or actors outside the official state institutions that are managing the situation. This situation in Iraq has led observers and analysts to conclude that the deep state has had a negative role on the political equations and the principles and form of the state on which it was built is now completely abolished, as a result of the weakness of the state.
If we look at the situation in Iraq, we can clearly see that the deep state has two forms: a formal form, namely the political, military and economic figures who take leadership positions in the state and officially role the state, whether by election or appointment. This has been very clearly seen in the past. The second is an informal form, where political, military and economic figures informally role the state and its institutions. Through their influence on officials, they can do what they want, but not in their own names.
In Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki, the former prime minister for two consecutive rounds, is regarded as the first founder of the deep state, the first since 2003 to divide members of the Dawa party among ministries.
Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the Fatah coalition, has taken over a number of ministries, including the transport and interior ministries, and Hashd al-Shaabi, which some believe is one of the components of the deep state in Iraq There is a presence. There is a common opinion that in the cabinet of Mohammed al-Sudani, what prevents the conclusion of agreements and then implement them, especially the agreement between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, are the parties mentioned. These parties often do not hide this through their statements and meetings and openly express their opposition to the agreements.
Another characteristic of the deep state is that they believe that political and financial decisions must be prepared outside the government institution and transferred to the government institution and given formal form. This is clearly happening right now in the Iraqi political process. In addition to common interests, the deep state has principles and values that believe in the need to remain in government institutions and strive to establish them even if it forces them to resort to illegal means They are governmental in their values and contents.
Therefore, it can be said that what governs Iraq is practically a deep state, but it legitimizes it through official institutions to make it seem that the process is now run by official state institutions.