Writing the Modern History of Iraq—Historiographical and Political Challenges

The history of Iraq is made up of successive and radical breaks (coup d'etat, 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.).