“The Politics of Memory I”

Virtual lecture series "Iraq 20 Years after the US Invasion: The Politics and memory of the transition from dictatorship and occupation”

The US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 was a watershed event in recent history. It ended the reign of one of the most brutal anciens régimes in the Middle East. Together with Afghanistan it marked the beginning of American “forever wars”, split Europe into an “old” and a “new” part, and shifted the regional power balance in favor of Iran. The impact on Iraq was profound. Outright dictatorship gave way to civil war and the construction of a hybrid regime that combined sectarianism and formally democratic institutions with rampant corruption and authoritarian forms of patronage. Yet the transition also opened new opportunities for Iraqi civil society to express its aspiration and grievances, including the politics of gender, minorities and memory. Economic sectors such as education, health care and natural resources underwent new developments and legal and governance structures were reformed. This virtual lecture series by internationally renowned experts gives an overview of developments since the invasion in 2003, discusses how they have shaped Iraqi society and gives an outlook on possible future pathways.

10. Virtual lecture Tue, 13. Jun. 2023: 

Haidar Hadi (Stanford University, USA): “Presentation of the Hoover archives and their challenges”

Ruiheng Li (Peking University, China): “A Tale of Two De-Ba‘thifications in Iraq: Evidence from Erbil and Baghdad”

Asher Orkaby (Princeton University’s Transregional Institute and a lecturer at Harvard University, USA): “Behind Closed Doors: Saddam’s Chemical War Strategy”

Moderator: André Bank (GIGA)