Reacting to deficient state services, high rates of unemployment, rampant corruption, and militia overreach, young Iraqis took to the street in 2018 and 2019 united by shared grievances and common demands. Loosely coordinated by civil society activists and longtime protesters via social media, the movement spurred thousands of protesters, mainly youth between the ages of 18 and 25, to take to the streets of Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, Karbala, and other major Iraqi cities. More recently, the movement has lost momentum in the face of an apathetic political class and the coronavirus outbreak that Iraq’s health system has struggled to contain. As Iraq approaches national elections, will the demonstrations be a significant factor?

What is the state of the protest movement in Iraq? What was the movement able to achieve and can it have a significant, united impact in the upcoming elections? Will the mainly Shia protesters support the status quo Shia parties that are planning to run candidates? Could the protest movement tip the scales for conventional Shia factions and parties, many of which are supported by Iran?