In this week's Inside the Issues, the program focuses on constitution-building in Iraq (or lack thereof) with Sven Spengemann, visiting scholar at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Having worked in Baghdad since 2005 and, from early 2007 on, as the Senior Constitutional Officer for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (currently on leave), Spengemann discusses the challenges involved in building a legitimate federal system within a country of competing sectarian interests. While security has improved in the past seven years, he says, the political will to build representative national institutions and a secular rule of law has lagged behind.
The views of Spengemann are his own and do not reflect those of the UN.
Series: Inside the Issues, Season Two
Now in its second season, the Inside the Issues weekly podcast series will run from October 2011 to April 2012, covering timely and candid discussions on issues related to the core areas of CIGI expertise: Global Economy, Global Security & Politics, and International Law. Join host and CIGI Chair David Welch as he goes in depth with leading experts on the most pressing global governance challenges facing the international community today.