181: quiet but successful nation building

Today's linked article, from the New York Times, is actually a book review. But in its summary of the book in question, it has captured a really hopeful tale - the gradual building of a 'virtual nation', that of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurd-dominated northern provinces of Iraq were protected by a no-fly zone during the latter years of Saddam Hussein's rule and have been largely left to their own devices since his regime collapsed. During that time, the article (and the book it reviews) suggests, Kurdistan has emerged as a relatively stable, democratic enclave that - thus far at least - has managed to avoid the violence that dominates other regions of Iraq. Why? Well, Kurdistan's limited self-government would seem to be the key, both to present stability and to a hopeful future for the Kurdish people. (Gorgeous photo from NYT.)