When the Islamic State (IS)¹ declared its caliphate in the summer of 2014, after capturing major Iraqi cities such as Mosul, Tikrit and Fallujah, and threatened to march through to Baghdad, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) seemed unable to halt its advance (Tran & Weaver, 2014). In response to this existential threat, Iraq’s most senior religious cleric, Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, issued an edict for all able-bodied men to enlist in the ISF and help protect the homeland, its people, and the holy shrines. Although Sistani’s fatwa carefully employed the language of nationalism as opposed to religious jihad, and called for men...

Many commentators have highlighted the danger the PMF poses to the territorial integrity of Iraq as it leads to loyalty lying somewhere other than the state (Alamuddin, 2016; Alavi, 2016; Dai, 2016; Duman, 2015). However, in order to fully understand this phenomenon, the danger it poses (if any), and how to counteract it, the analysis needs to extend beyond this and towards a more comprehensive understanding of the challenge that the PMF may pose to the state. Thus, a theoretical lens by which to view and analyse it needs to be developed. This section aims to develop such a lens...

As the PMF came to prominence due to the Iraqi army’s capitulation against IS, and with the purpose of defeating it, it is important to examine the multiple aims of the various groups that exist within it, both for the present and once IS is defeated. The Iraqi army has recovered from the dire situation it found itself in during 2014, and its role in the battle in Mosul is a testament to this (Knights, 2016a, 2016b). Therefore, when IS is defeated the PMF will have fulfilled its purpose and its continued existence threatens to erode Iraqi national unity. The...

The important role the PMF plays in defeating has already been highlighted, however it is worth reiterating this point; Michael Knights captures the sentiment very well:

the PMF has to be recognised as a legitimate part of Iraq’s military history and a proud chapter for many Iraqis. When the Iraqi military failed in June 2014 it was the Shia paramilitaries that stepped up and created the confidence to prevent the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from taking Samarra and western Baghdad (Knights, 2016d).

Nevertheless, once this threat is gone, the entities within the PMF will remain and...

The important role that the PMF has played in Iraqi history cannot be denied, in Iraq’s time of need it provided security and kept IS at bay whilst the ISF regrouped and restructured. When Iraq’s territorial integrity was under threat, the PMF delivered and this must be respected. However, whilst the PMF once protected the territorial integrity of Iraq, it now threatens to undermine it. Having forces that represent a distinct subnationalism – whether that be a transnationalism linked to Iran, or a Sunni nationalism opposed to the government – dilutes the population’s loyalty to the state. The longer the...

The subnationalisms associated with various militias undermine national unity and are likely to intensify during the 2017 and 2018 elections. Therefore, Prime Minister Abadi should use the peak in his popularity, likely to follow IS’ defeat, to form a political platform based on political and security sector reform, national reconciliation and unity. This platform should be centred around principles of inclusion and diversity and local communities must be given a stake in providing their own security through the national army and police force – which should become the sole provider of security for the people of Iraq.

The Iraqi Parliament...