With well over a hundred fatalities and thousands of wounded, Iraq’s demonstrations are not over, merely on hold while a major religious holiday is observed in Iraq’s south. Baghdad has a brief respite before they will reportedly resume on Oct. 25.

The demonstrations are largely justified and entirely expected. My last War on the Rocks piece in January warned that unless the Iraqi government made large strides in services, infrastructure and jobs, it was at risk of an uprising against 15 years of failure by Iraq’s governing class. When the government got through the heat of the summer without any major protests, I thought that absent the catalyst of 130-degree days, the government would enjoy a respite until next July. I was obviously mistaken.

The demonstrations come against the background of what can only be described as a social and cultural renaissance inside Iraq. It's centered in Baghdad but extends to a lesser extent throughout most of the country, excepting Mosul and the disputed territories. This renaissance is characterized by a vitality and nationalism that is breathtaking to long-term observers of Iraq. 

Sectarianism (save with the Islamic State and the remaining Baathists) is all but dead, despite being hard-wired into the political system. Iraq’s youth have no time for such distractions and at least in Baghdad, questions about sect are considered rude.