Patrick Basham

In the following viewpoint, written shortly after the toppling of the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Patrick Basham gives a pessimistic assessment of the chances that Iraq will replace Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship with a viable democratic government. He contends that Iraq is torn by numerous religious, ethnic, and tribal divisions, and that Iraqi society lacks the economic development and cultural values necessary to create democracy. The concepts of political freedom and responsibility are alien to most Iraqis, he asserts. Basham is a senior fellow in the Center for Representative Government at the Cato Institute, a think tank that promotes limited government.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What possible negative outcome of majority Shiite rule in Iraq does Basham argue must be prevented?
2. What does the author consider to...