Iraq

From Gothpoodle

• Population: 74 million
• Aspects: Unstable, Controlled, Third Wave

In 2012, the Ba’athist regime in Iraq collapsed, triggering the Third Persian Gulf War. In the aftermath of the conflict, a coalition of former opposition groups attempted to set up a government, with limited success. Not until the 2050s did an effective central government reappear, and even then some parts of the country insisted on a high level of autonomy.

Today Iraq continues to struggle, although internal stability has held for over 20 years. The most serious difficulty facing Iraq is its hostile neighbor, Iran. The Iraqi government is a member of the Islamic Caliphate, and serves as a “front line” state against the Iranian threat. On the other hand, large sections of the population resent the Caliphate, and would be sympathetic toward Iran if that nation wasn’t in turn ruled by such a brutal dictatorship. Baghdad is a hotbed of diplomatic and espionage activity, and an outbreak of war seems possible within the next few years.