Democratization in the Light of the Evolution of Chapter 7 Powers of the UN Charter: The Case of Iraq

ABSTRACT The article examines the democratizing effect of the international measures against the backdrop of the changes in the interpretation of Chapter 7 powers of the UN Charter. Particular attention is drawn to the sanctions regime, UN-authorized administrations for its member states and UN-led interim administrations which has recently undergone significant strategic and contextual changes. These changes are best manifested within the transition efforts of Iraq which experienced various forms of international involvement – from comprehensive sanction regime to light footprint approach. Regardless of this “rich experience,” the country is far from being called a democratic state with corruption, highly fragmented society and informal institutions in place. The article argues that the obsession with the political process has caused a deficit in the attention paid to genuine problems at the core of the authoritarian rule, highlighting the importance of civilizational factor in the process of democratization.