Al-Rafidain Journal of Political Science

This research discusses the compatibility between the political system and development enablement, using the Japanese system as an influential model for the success of this role in both development and cooperation, particularly between the political systems in the country. The research aims to identify the work that the Iranian regime is ignoring in achieving its development vision on the ground, especially through the Polish-Japanese system, which is a prominent actor in this field

Following the February 17, 2011 revolution that overthrew the Libyan regime, the country entered a complex and bitter conflict involving multiple actors and instruments. This conflict has resulted in a profound rupture in social stability. By examining the internal environmental variables that hinder the achievement of societal stability—such as the absence of a unified authority, the fragmentation of state institutions, the proliferation of armed groups, the lack of rule of law, and the repeated failure to conduct regular elections—the study seeks to understand the deeper roots of the ongoing crisis. The research concludes that the continued struggle for power and the multiplicity of decision-making centers have weakened the state and entrenched divisions, thus necessitating a comprehensive political solution. The study aims to provide an analytical perspective that contributes to state-building efforts and promotes stability through institutional unification, activation of the electoral process, and the establishment of an effective legal and security framework that upholds state sovereignty and serves the public interest. Libya has experienced numerous internal variables that have negatively impacted social stability, the most significant of which include the delayed development of democratic institutions, military divisions, economic challenges, the influence of armed groups, the resurgence of tribalism, and ongoing security threats. Collectively, these variables have led to a state of social instability and fragmentation in Libya.

Following Syria's political transition in December 2024, repatriation or return, as a durable solution for Syrian refugees in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), where most of the Syrian refugees live, has become a main point of discussion for the refugees and the refugee-related organizations. This research explores and focuses on the challenges and opportunities concerning the return of Syrian refugees from Iraq in a voluntary, safe, and dignified manner, considering the ongoing political instability, security concerns, and economic challenges in Syria. To obtain views of both Syrian refugees and the relevant organizations that work to assist and support the Syrian refugees in Iraq, the research used a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative surveys with Syrian refugees living in camps and urban areas in the Erbil governorate, where a large number of Syrian refugees live, as well as qualitative interviews with managers of international and national organizations working to assist and protect refugees in Iraq. The findings disclosed that only a limited percentage of refugees intend or are capable of going back to Syria, while the vast majority prefer resettling in another country, indicating security concerns, economic instability, and lack of basic services as primary concerns for returning to Syria. Therefore, while voluntary return or repatriation of Syrian refugees might be a preferred long-term solution, it is currently not feasible due to unresolved political, security, and economic challenges in Syria.

This study examines the impact of social values on public policy in Iraq from 2005 to 2025. It is based on the premise that social values guide public policy by shaping the orientations of individuals and institutions, while also imposing social constraints on decision-makers. The study employs a descriptive and analytical approach to identify the prevailing values in Iraqi society and analyze their influence on the decision-making process. Drawing on David Easton’s systems approach, the research explores the interactive relationship between social values, which act as inputs to the political system, and public policies, which serve as its outputs. The study is significant because of the limited research that has addressed this topic in depth, making it a valuable contribution to the academic literature. The findings indicate that social values in Iraq not only regulate individual behavior but also determine policy priorities and their societal legitimacy. These values are institutionalized within the political system through legislation. The study further highlights a conflict between traditional and modern values and shows that decision-makers are often predominantly influenced by social values rather than political orientations, particularly under the effect of religious, tribal, and nationalist values.

This research examines the central role of a culture of violence in Israeli politics, highlighting its religious, cultural, and historical roots. It discusses how the Zionist movement emerged in a context influenced by biblical narratives and the Torah, which portrayed violence as an essential tool for the existence of Israel, justifying military and political superiority over its Arab surroundings. The study aims to analyze Israeli violence through three main angles: the definition of violence and peace in the Israeli concept, the role of religion and history in shaping this violence, and the impact of socialization in reinforcing a culture of violence. The research posits that violence in Israeli politics is not merely a security reaction but a cumulative result of religious, cultural, and social factors that feed into the Israeli perception of peace as military dominance, rather than justice or mutual recognition.

The impact of strategic thinking on U.S. foreign policy is a central element in how Washington manages its relations with China, especially in the context of the ongoing struggle for economic and military influence. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the challenges the United States faces from China have increased, whether in economic, military, or political fields.
Especially with regard to the Taiwan issue, which is one of the most prominent points of contention in US-China relations. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and demands reunification of the island with the mainland, while Taiwan seeks to maintain its political independence. The United States, despite not officially recognizing Taiwan's sovereignty, supports it in facing any military threats from China.

During the colonial era, France pursued a policy of direct control over its colonies in Africa. After its independence and liberation from French colonialism during the period from 1956 to 1977, France sought by all means to ensure its control over its former colonies. To this end, it adopted the France-Afrique policy. However, this policy became widely rejected by African countries, both officially and popularly, forcing France to reconsider its policy towards Africa. This shift was most clearly evident after French President Emmanuel Macron assumed power in 2017, adopting a new policy towards Africa and expanding the scope of his activities to African regions not previously under French colonial rule. During his visits to Africa, he focused on several issues, including food security, development, entrepreneurship, human rights, democracy, education, and culture

Shura is one of the fundamental principles of the Islamic system. Islam preceded all modern democratic systems in the democratic field, as the principle of shura in Islam holds significant importance due to its effective role in all aspects of society. Allah has legislated principles and rules for this nation to follow so that it can attain a distinguished place among all nations, and among these principles is shura. Once the nation commits to it, it develops a cohesive and unified structure that surpasses other nations. Therefore, our research focuses on the topic of shura, as countries that have sought to implement it have found immense benefits in doing so. The topic has been approached from an Islamic perspective, attempting to apply shura in a practical manner on the ground, eliminating all obstacles that stand in the way of its implementation, and striving to correct the methodologies pursued by countries in their governance. We do not stray from the truth when we say that the importance of shura in our affairs and transactions, and its affirmation as an urgent Islamic, political, and rational necessity, entails the necessity of changing the methodology we adopt in our Arab countries to achieve the desired correct results. Hence, it was essential for us to conduct research according to the standards and rules of science and history in order to arrive at a clear concept of this.

The fall of the Assad regime represents a pivotal turning point that has fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Within this new context, Turkey emerges as one of the most prominent regional actors, leveraging its long border with Syria and its sustained political and military involvement since 2011. This study aims to explore Turkey’s prospective role in post-regime Syria by analyzing the complex dynamics shaping its foreign policy.
Drawing on the descriptive-analytical approach and framed within the neoclassical realist theory, the study examines the political, security, and economic opportunities and challenges that define Turkey’s strategic orientation. On one hand, Turkey seeks to capitalize on several strategic opportunities, such as supporting the formation of a friendly Syrian government, resolving the Kurdish issue in line with its national security vision, and establishing a safe zone to facilitate the return of refugees. On the other hand, Ankara faces multiple challenges, including internal conflicts among Syrian factions, the uncertain fate of the Kurdish self-administered regions, and regional as well as international rivalries that constrain its influence.
This study thus seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the key factors shaping Turkey’s future policy in Syria and to assess their potential implications for regional security and stability.

The research discusses the role of sustainable peace in enhancing international economic relations, through a comparative study between the cases of Angola and Colombia, both of which experienced prolonged conflicts and then transitioned to a post-conflict phase. The research aims to analyze the extent to which achieving peace affects these countries' ability to regain their position in the global economy, attract investments, and expand international partnerships. The research focuses on the concept of sustainable peace, which is not limited to the absence of violence but includes addressing the roots of conflict, building strong institutions, and providing a safe and stable environment that supports economic development. It also examines the Colombian and Angolan experiences in terms of political and security pathways, reconstruction policies, and the success in improving the investment climate and enhancing international economic cooperation.

The research attempts to study one of the most important contemporary political concepts in the management of policies, whether at the internal or external level, which is the concept of necropolitics (the politics of death), which was formulated by the Cameroonian thinker (Achille Mbembe), and he tried to explain how death becomes the first point or stage in the management of policies, and this is what is consistent with the Zionist policies in managing its war with the Palestinians, which according to (Mbembe) does not depart from the colonial behavior practiced by Western countries previously, especially since it relies in this on a religious reference that justifies its legitimacy and right to kill and genocide, in addition to international support or silence on these policies.

This research discusses the United States' efforts to reformulate its policy towards the African continent in light of the security and economic transformations that occurred at the beginning of the twenty-first century, as it witnessed on the continent an important arena for securing resources and combating terrorism. However, these policies, despite their fluctuations and diversity, faced many accumulated challenges based on the historical legacy of American relations with African countries based on political conditionality and selectivity in the subject of development partnerships with the increase in competing powers such as Russia, China and even France, which present itself to African countries as a more flexible, less intrusive and conditional alternative.

A closer examination of the history of U.S. strategy toward China reveals a pattern of change and fluctuation. This variability is closely linked to a series of significant events. The most impactful event influencing U.S.-China relations has been COVID-19, as an unprecedented crisis. The research problem lies in the differing perspectives regarding the extent to which the United States may seek to exploit COVID-19. Thus, the main question is: How did COVID-19 impact the U.S. approach toward China?. Therefore, the hypothesis is that the coronavirus pandemic serves as a strategic loophole that the USA is attempting to leverage to curb China's rise in the twenty-first century. It may represent a gradual threat to U.S. hegemony. In conclusion, if China's rise intensifies in pursuit of global expansion, challenging unilateral dominance, the United States will likely increase its strategic activities aimed at countering China. Finally, both countries are on a trajectory of managed escalation.

The concept of consociation democracy has, for decades, proven important as a model for addressing the problems of societies marked by deep plurality, division, and weak social integration. In Belgium, social and cultural structures, especially linguistic differences, drove the adoption of this model to preserve state unity. Political parties reinforced this orientation when they shifted from broad national representation to narrower regional bases.
Social integration is the core of any modern democratic experience, reflecting the ability of linguistic, cultural, and religious groups to coexist within a national framework founded on equality and mutual recognition. Belgium’s state-building process raised many dilemmas, with societal pluralism emerging as a decisive factor shaping political institutions. Repeated tensions among the country’s components produced instability, revealing the limits of a simple unitary state. This failure to achieve integration compelled Belgium to adopt a federal (consociational) structure to avoid collapse amid Flemish demands for independence and Walloon aspirations to join France, with which they share common origins, history, and language.
Yet Belgium’s consociational model has not been free of challenges. Government formation often drags on for months, reflecting elite bargaining rather than genuine popular will.

The study addresses the phenomenon of militarization of the economy in Arab regimes, which have witnessed numerous military coups. This has led to the military establishment dominating all aspects of the political system in some Arab regimes, through the appointment of numerous officers to vital positions and important ministries without the assistance of the civilian elite. Furthermore, the military establishment supported the massive military spending of the armed forces, which constituted a significant economic cost that burdened the budgets of Arab countries, as military spending rates exceeded the gross domestic product. Consequently, these regimes needed other sources of funding to sustain this funding.

The research discusses how political dynamics affect the division of society, especially when the authority deliberately acts unjustly in the authoritative allocation of values among social groups in society, bringing some groups closer and excluding others. This leads to the creation of gaps between the groups that make up society, which widen in intensity and increase in depth when political elites, through their political discourse and legal procedures, deliberately follow preferential and discriminatory policies between those groups. This ends with the division of society and the occurrence of social conflict, and here lies the problem of the research. The research assumes a direct relationship between political dynamics and increased societal division, as the exploitation of power by political elites, inflammatory political discourse, and the enactment of unjust laws lead to social division, while their decline contributes to strengthening societal cohesion. In order to identify the research problem and verify its hypothesis, the systems analysis method was used. The research concluded that unbalanced political practices pose a threat to the social fabric and stability. The exploitation of identity divisions by political elites and their promotion of the “us versus them” narrative can lead to violence or even genocide.

Modern democratic systems face a fundamental internal challenge stemming from populist rhetoric that divides the political entity into two opposing camps. This study examines how institutions defend themselves against these pressures, focusing on the relationship between the strength of fundamental laws, the stability of political norms, and the impartiality of the judicial system. The analysis goes beyond simply describing the manifestations of these challenges; it delves into the legal framework and the effectiveness of its implementation to ensure a balance between the will of the majority and oversight. The work suggests that the defensive capabilities of institutions are enhanced by a robust constitutional framework that guarantees the genuine independence of the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and oversight bodies. Stability requires clearly defined boundaries for preventive, containment, and corrective measures. Resistance rests on two pillars: binding checks and balances to limit administrative power and guiding values that reinforce the concept of the state as an impersonal entity and strengthen the role of civil society actors. This combination empowers pluralism to endure

The research discusses the concept of structure and political transformation and their role in explaining the nature of change in Arab states. It focuses on the military institution as a key actor whose role goes beyond security and defense to influencing transformation processes and political decision-making. It also highlights how its rigid structure and interventionist history have been decisive factors in either supporting or obstructing democratic transition. The study concludes that understanding the future of political transformation in the Arab world depends on an in-depth analysis of the military institution’s structure and its roles.