Roger B. Myerson has an excellent analysis of the Iraqi constitution over at Juan Cole's Informed Comment.

Myerson discusses how the federalist system (the separation of federal and state powers) established by the constitution will be beneficial for forming a solid democratic state. There are some problems, however, like a section in the constitution which establishes incentives for smaller provinces to combine into larger ones, thereby decreasing the ability of local governments to meet the needs of the people, and increasing the risk of secession as larger provinces are more likely to desire independence than smaller provinces.

While this analysis only deals with the form of the new government, there are other issues with the constitution from a human rights perspective, including the provision that no law may contradict Sharia, or Islamic law. This may result in laws which discriminate against women, or sanction some forms of abuse towards women. Also, the provisions protecting freedom of speech are extremely weak, stating only that freedom of speech will not be infringed except by law. There are numerous other touchy areas that westerners would gasp at, however the constitution is distinctly Middle Eastern, so this is not surprising.

The most unsettling part is, as Myerson discusses, that the constitution may make secession and civil war even more inevitable than they already seem, in light of the many ethnic and religious divisions that threaten to tear the country apart.