On January 15, 2004, approximately six months after the conclusion of the 2003 war, tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims shouting "no to America" marched through the southern Iraq city of Basra in a call for early elections of a new Iraqi government. Under direct elections, the Shiites, who compose approximately 60 percent of Iraq's population, could gain control of Iraq's government for the first time in decades. However, Iraq's Sunni Muslims, who have dominated the government throughout Iraq's history, fear that direct elections will minimize their influence in government. As Iraqi reconstruction proceeds, the effects of direct elections on Iraq's various ethnic groups is one of many conflicts complicating the rebuilding process.

The Shiites—Arab Muslims who follow the Shiite branch of Islam—have long comprised the majority of Iraq's population. However, since its creation in 1921, Iraq has been governed by a Sunni Arab minority...