Insurgencies and civil wars often gain attention in the United States only when waves of violence batter urban frontlines abroad. But once the combat ends and the cameras go home, interest here swiftly recedes. Yet, the lingering effects of the fighting—particularly on human capital—have profound strategic implications for the stability, democracy and prosperity of a state emerging from war.
A case in point is Iraq, a country that has experienced three major wars over the past three decades: the Iran-Iraq war (1980–1988), the Gulf War (1990–1991) and the Iraq War (2003–2011). Each conflict not only devastated the country's economy and infrastructure but also triggered waves of emigration and internal displacement. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, almost 1.5 million (or 10 percent) of the world's refugees are from Iraq. An additional 1.3 million Iraqis are classified as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Even though major fighting has ceased, a variety of factors—including a lack of economic and educational opportunities, social discrimination and inadequate access to public services, exacerbated by religious violence, ethnic nationalism and recurrent political crises—continue to force Iraqis to flee their homeland. Many who leave are young individuals, members of religious or ethnic minority groups as well as professionals such as scientists, engineers, lawyers, doctors and teachers. Such people are the backbone of any healthy civil society and pluralistic democracy, and their exodus imperils Iraq's future.
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