Writing the modern history of Iraq : historiographical and political challenges

The modern history of Iraq is punctuated by a series of successive and radical ruptures (coups d'etat, changes of regime, military adventures and foreign invasions) whose chronological markers are relatively easy to identify. Although researchers cannot ignore these ruptures, they should also be encouraged to establish links between the moments when the breaks occur and the longue duree, in order to gain a better understanding of the period. Combining a variety of different disciplinary and methodological perspectives, this collection of essays seeks to establish some new markers which will open fresh perspectives on the history of Iraq in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and suggest a narrative that fits into new paradigms. The book covers the various different periods of the modern state (the British occupation and mandate, the monarchy, the first revolutions and the decades of Ba'thist rule) through the lens of significant groups in Iraq society, including artists, film-makers, political and opposition groups, members of ethnic and religious groups, and tribes. Readership: Professionals, students & scholars interested in historical, social & political issues in Iraq & the Middle East. The modern history of Iraq is punctuated by a series of successive and radical ruptures (coups d'etat, changes of regime, military adventures and foreign invasions) whose chronological markers are relatively easy to identify. Although researchers cannot ignore these ruptures, they should also be encouraged to establish links between the moments when the breaks occur and the longue durée, in order to gain a better understanding of the period. Combining a variety of different disciplinary and methodological perspectives, this collection of essays seeks to establish some new markers which will open fresh perspectives on the history of Iraq in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and suggest a narrative that fits into new paradigms. The book covers the various different periods of the modern state (the British occupation and mandate, the monarchy, the first revolutions and the decades of Ba'thist rule) through the lens of significant groups in Iraq society, including artists, film-makers, political and opposition groups, members of ethnic and religious groups, and tribes. The history of Iraq is made up of successive and radical breaks (coup d'tat, changes of regime, military invasions), the chronological markers of which are easy to identify. Although researchers cannot ignore these disruptions, it is also necessary to establish a link between the moments when the breaks occur and the longer term, in order to shed light on the period under study. Combining different disciplines (history, sociology, political science and anthropology), the book seeks to advance some milestones that will allow for a renewed perspective on Iraqi 20th century history and propose a narrative that fits into new paradigms. Finally, the book tackles different periods (monarchy, republic, Ba'thist, etc.) with an interest in diverse spheres of the Iraqi society (arts, politics, religious, tribal, etc.).