The following is an archived copy of a message sent to the CASI Analysis List run by Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq (CASI).
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [CASI Homepage]
[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] [ Presenting plain-text part of multi-format email ] Roger Myerson, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, shared with Juan Cole the following on the Interim Constitution: "Article 55 . . .may be a key to the evolution of power in Iraq. This article specifies that any group that has taken control of a Governate Council before 1 July 2004 under the CPA can retain control "until free, direct, and full elections, conducted pursuant to the law, are held." There is no indication of when such Governate elections may occur. In particular, these Governate elections are not linked to the National Assembly elections, nor is it clear whether the National Assembly has the power to call Governate elections (since "no member of any region government, governor, member of any governate... may be dismissed by the federal government"). As I read it, the suggestion is that local elections may not be generally required until a final constitution is approved. Article 56 also promises that these Governate councils will get a significant role in administering the country. "So if an aspiring national leader can develop a factional network that has widespread control of Governate councils (established without elections under the CPA), then that leader may be able to control local elections to the National Assembly in these Governates and may dominate the national political process thereafter. "I have written essays and professional articles [2, 3, below] arguing that, to promote democracy in occupied Iraq, local elections should have been held first and then local councils should have be given leading roles in the constitution of the provisional government. But if local elections are indefinitely postponed, then the establishment of a system of autonomous and unelected Governate leaders could instead seriously jeopardize the development of democracy in Iraq. Many people may be thinking only of Kurdish concerns for autonomy when they read Articles 55 and 56. But we should recognize the power of local authorities throughout the country to administer and control the elections to the National Assembly. These local councils hold the keys to national power in the new Iraq. The Basic Law's ambiguity about the timing of local elections may give some hope. For example, if the CPA before June were to administer free democratic elections for local councils in all Governates, then the significance of these articles would be reversed. Sincerely, Roger Myerson " References [1] <http://www.geocities.com/nathanbrown1/interimiraqiconstitution.html> http://www.geocities.com/nathanbrown1/interimiraqiconstitution.html [2] <http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/iraq.pdf> http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/iraq.pdf [3] <http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/research/federal.pdf> http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/research/federal.pdf Roger B. Myerson W.C.Norby Professor of Economics Department of Economics University of Chicago 1126 East 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637 <http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/> http://home.uchicago.edu/~rmyerson/ posted by Juan Cole at <http://juancole.com/2004_03_01_juancole_archive.html#107899302686558960> 3/11/2004 09:17:06 AM _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk