Between the Devil and the Deep Sea. The Consequences of U.S. Presence in Iraq on Democratization Efforts in the Greater Middle East

Even though the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was widely protested around the globe, nobody
would actually deny the fact, that the removal of its cruel dictator Saddam Hussein was in itself a
good thing. As part of the Greater Middle East Initiative, the U.S. hoped to spark democratization
in one of the most undemocratic regions in the world. Yet, if one takes a closer look at the
preconditions, it becomes clear that America’s decision was essentially like choosing between the
devil and the deep sea – the decision to invade Iraq had as many negative consequences as to
refrain from acting.
This paper will assess the negative consequences of the U.S. American invasion of Iraq
on the democratic development in the Greater Middle East area. I intend to look at the social and
political developments in various authoritarian regimes before the year 2003 and compare and
contrast it to the 2005 status quo.
The example of Iran will be closely analyzed in a case study; to see what changes the
invasion of Iraq has brought about in Iran. The underlying hypothesis is, that U.S. presence in
Iraq has increased radicalism among Iranian leaders, and decreased the countries chances to
democratize. I will look anti-democratic sentiments and actions among Iranian leaders before and
after the war in Iraq to assess whether this hypothesis holds true.