Developing a political and economic reform agenda

ASI prepared a report in March 2003 setting out a comprehensive plan for the reform and reconstruction of post-Saddam Iraq. The report entitled "Towards an Economic and Governance Agenda for a New Iraq" contained a full set of proposals for Iraq's transition from an authoritarian heavily centralized state to a representative government respecting the rule of law and abiding by the will of its people. The report advocated decentralisation of power as a critical objective of reform in Iraq to avoid reversion to another form of centralised dictatorship that uses oil revenues to enhance its ability to repress the population. The report was widely quoted in the media and used for planning purposes by development agencies.