Six years after the Tishreen uprising shook Iraq’s political establishment, the popular struggle for reform continues. In October 2021, EPIC published The Long Game, a groundbreaking study on the birth of this movement. Today, as Iraqis prepare to head to the polls on November 11th, we are proud to release our latest report, which answers a critical new question: What is the state of the pro-reform movement today, and what are its prospects for the future?
This report by EPIC explores the current state of pro-reform civil parties that emerged during that period and assesses their strategies and outlook ahead of the November 2025 elections. It seeks to identify the key actors and examines the main factors and dynamics shaping the current pro-reform landscape. These include their recent experience in parliament; internal divisions impacting their cohesion; relations with traditional political actors; structural impediments posed by establishment forces; their adaptability to the adverse political context; and coalition-building and voter mobilization strategies.
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The research conducted by EPIC indicates that pro-reform actors utilize a broad mix of strategies. While some parties have competed in elections since 2021, others are currently shifting from boycotting elections to embracing electoral competition. Yet another group continues to prioritize an extended phase of internal development before joining the fray. Similarly, some groups coalesced into exclusively pro-reform alliances, whereas others elected to bandwagon with moderate-leaning establishment figures, and some have shunned coalitions altogether. These choices often reflect attempts to adapt to the challenges posed by Iraq’s political environment, which include the power of patronage networks, unfavorable electoral laws, the exploitation of state resources by ruling parties, and the presence of militias in politics. Against this backdrop, the upcoming election will likely present a tough challenge for pro-reform groups and will rigorously test their adaptation tactics and strategies for coalition-making and voter mobilization.
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For a deep dive into the history of the pro-reform movement and the Tishreen protests of 2019-2020, read our foundational 2021 study: The Long Game: Iraq’s ‘Tishreen’ Movement and the Struggle for Reform.
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