Coalition Provisional Authority

Definition

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was the transitional government established by the United States and its allies in Iraq after the invasion in 2003, tasked with administering the country during the occupation. It aimed to rebuild Iraq's political system and infrastructure while establishing a new government following the ousting of Saddam Hussein. The CPA faced numerous challenges, including rising insurgency, economic instability, and criticism over its policies and effectiveness in fostering stability and security.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The CPA was established on April 21, 2003, shortly after Baghdad fell to coalition forces, with U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer as its head.
2. One of the CPA's most controversial decisions was the de-Ba'athification policy, which banned members of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party from holding public office, leading to significant unrest and resentment among many Iraqis.
3. The CPA issued a series of orders aimed at restructuring Iraq's economy, including privatizing state-owned enterprises, which received mixed reactions from the Iraqi population.
4. The authority disbanded the Iraqi military, which contributed to unemployment and instability, exacerbating the insurgency that arose against coalition forces.
5. The CPA officially ended its operations on June 28, 2004, transferring sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government and marking a significant shift in the U.S. approach to governance in Iraq.

Review Questions

• How did the Coalition Provisional Authority attempt to reshape Iraq's political landscape after the invasion?
  • The Coalition Provisional Authority sought to reshape Iraq's political landscape by implementing policies aimed at establishing a new democratic government and promoting political inclusivity. This included forming the Iraqi Governing Council to represent various factions within Iraq and facilitating a political process that would lead to elections. The CPA also focused on rebuilding Iraq's institutions and infrastructure to support long-term stability and governance.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Coalition Provisional Authority's policies during its administration in Iraq.
  • The effectiveness of the Coalition Provisional Authority's policies is highly debated among historians and analysts. While it made initial efforts to rebuild Iraq's political structure, decisions like de-Ba'athification and disbanding the military led to widespread unemployment and resentment. These actions fueled an insurgency that undermined security efforts and highlighted challenges in governance. The lack of local input in decision-making further complicated its effectiveness in establishing a stable and secure environment.
• Assess how the decisions made by the Coalition Provisional Authority impacted Iraq's long-term political stability and security.
  • The decisions made by the Coalition Provisional Authority had profound implications for Iraq's long-term political stability and security. Policies such as de-Ba'athification removed many experienced officials from power, creating a leadership vacuum that contributed to instability. The disbanding of the military left many former soldiers unemployed and embittered, feeding into the insurgency that plagued Iraq for years. These decisions not only hindered immediate recovery efforts but also set a precedent for ongoing sectarian conflict and governance challenges that continue to affect Iraq today.

Related terms

Iraqi Governing Council: A body formed in July 2003 by the CPA to represent various Iraqi factions and assist in governing the country, paving the way for a more inclusive political process.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: The military operation launched by the United States and coalition forces in March 2003, which aimed to overthrow Saddam Hussein and eliminate weapons of mass destruction.

Insurgency: The armed rebellion against the CPA and coalition forces by various Iraqi groups, which emerged as a significant challenge during the occupation.