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Bilal Wahhab-Civil Society in Iraq Homegrown or Market Response?
Rumi ForumUnder the former Iraqi regime, the state and the ruling Baath party controlled many aspects of people's lives and banned any forms of popular organization. After 2003 and with the availability of international funding, civil society and nongovernmental organizations mushroomed in Iraq, mainly as a market response rather than grassroots efforts. With the withdrawal of international aid and the windfall of Iraqi petrodollars, however, the state and especially ruling parties are ready to jump in to the scene as alternative donors. Deriving from his experience with USAID civil society programs, thRead moreShow less
Under the former Iraqi regime, the state and the ruling Baath party controlled many aspects of people's lives and banned any forms of popular organization. After 2003 and with the availability of international funding, civil society and nongovernmental organizations mushroomed in Iraq, mainly as a market response rather than grassroots efforts. With the withdrawal of international aid and the windfall of Iraqi petrodollars, however, the state and especially ruling parties are ready to jump in to the scene as alternative donors. Deriving from his experience with USAID civil society programs, the presenter addresses the rise, development and future roles of civil society in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan as able voices of the people, checks on the government and contributors to peace and stability.
Bio: Bilal Wahab is currently a doctoral student at George Mason University where he studies economic and political transition in the petroleum-rich Middle Eastern states. He is affiliated with the university's Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC). He received his Master's Degree from American University on a Fulbright Scholarship. In Iraq, he served as a governance advisor for citizen participation in public decision-making at USAID's Local Governance Program. He worked with local authorities and civil society organizations in five northern Iraqi provinces to promote transparency and accountability toward democratic governance. Prior to that, he worked for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In the run up to Iraq's first democratic elections, he worked for the International Republican Institute, where he trained election candidates and monitored the elections. He also lectured at Salahaddin University's College of Law and Political Science. He has made frequent media appearances on Aljazeera, National Public Radio, News Hour with Jim Lehrer and other media outlets. He also consulted at the World Bank's Institutional Integrity Vice Presidency. His most-cited article appeared in Middle East Quarterly, entitled "How Oil Smuggling Greases Violence in Iraq."
Bio: Bilal Wahab is currently a doctoral student at George Mason University where he studies economic and political transition in the petroleum-rich Middle Eastern states. He is affiliated with the university's Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC). He received his Master's Degree from American University on a Fulbright Scholarship. In Iraq, he served as a governance advisor for citizen participation in public decision-making at USAID's Local Governance Program. He worked with local authorities and civil society organizations in five northern Iraqi provinces to promote transparency and accountability toward democratic governance. Prior to that, he worked for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In the run up to Iraq's first democratic elections, he worked for the International Republican Institute, where he trained election candidates and monitored the elections. He also lectured at Salahaddin University's College of Law and Political Science. He has made frequent media appearances on Aljazeera, National Public Radio, News Hour with Jim Lehrer and other media outlets. He also consulted at the World Bank's Institutional Integrity Vice Presidency. His most-cited article appeared in Middle East Quarterly, entitled "How Oil Smuggling Greases Violence in Iraq."
