Religion and state: The relationships between the Shia ulama and the state in Iraq 1921–2015

The main question that is dealt with in this research is: what has been the relationship between the Shia ulama and the state in Iraq, since the establishment of the state of Iraq in 1921 until 2015? The concept of elite theory is employed to help understand the relationship between the political elite – representing state power – and the religious elite, representing the Shia religious authority in Najaf, Iraq. The exclusionary policy employed by the state against the Shia ulama and the latter’s belief of possessing a divine obligation to supervise the ruler’s authority until the return of the absent imam have resulted in there being no explicit framework for their relationship. The autonomy of the religious elite from the ruler plays an essential role in its interference in politics. A qualitative method and historical approach were used to analyse and elicit accurate data from primary and secondary sources, in order to present a comprehensive description of the relationship between the successive governments in Iraq and the Shia ulama. The policies of the successive political regimes in Iraq in 1921–2003, did not succeed in eliminating the role of the Shia ulama. During the period 2003–2015, the cooperation model that both parties followed did not create a framework that gave their relationship a legal and official character. The political attitude of the Shia ulama in Iraq, compared to their counterpart in Iran, shows that Shi’i political Islam in Iraq has its own political culture. Ultimately, the Shia ulama’s interference in the Iraqi political scene is unavoidable, but they do not attempt to seize the state. This leads proponents of elite theory to not just consider who has the power, but also how this power could be used without the intent to compete for political power