“Like A Father Who Doesn't Love His Children”: Institutional Trust, State Neglect, and Prospects for Justice in Post-Conflict Iraq
Since the end of the ISIL conflict in Iraq in 2017, families have begun returning to cities, including Baiji in Salah al-Din Governorate, to rebuild their lives and communities. Implicit in this return is the expectation that the state would support them in these efforts, including repairing not only infrastructure but also the frayed social fabric of the city. Three years on, however, feelings of the state’s neglect and inability to act in the best interest of residents are widespread across Baiji. If left unaddressed, low levels of individual and collective institutional trust over time have the capacity to erode social cohesion and civic engagement, which in turn has negative implications for interest and participation in justice measures. The following analysis of Baiji residents’ perceptions as they return to their city demonstrates the connections between low institutional trust, state neglect, and prospects for justice. The analysis also highlights that these dynamics are not immutable, and offers a way forward in starting to overcome them.