What al-Maliki’s return would mean for Iraq and the region

Two weeks ago, incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced his withdrawal from the premiership race. Amid political negotiations following the November elections, this move effectively paved the way for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to return to power.

This development is not just an act of political recycling; it reflects the failure of Iraqi state-building after th...