The Other Iraq: Pluralism and Culture in Hashemite Iraq

by Orit Bashkin

The Other Iraq challenges the notion that Iraq has always been a totalitarian, artificial state, torn by sectarian violence. Chronicling the rise of the Iraqi public sphere from 1921 to 1958, this enlightening work reveals that the Iraqi intellectual field was always more democratic and pluralistic than historians have tended to believe. Orit Bashkin demonstrates how Sunni, Shi'i, and Kurdish intellectuals effectively created hyphenated Iraqi identities, connoting pride in their individual heritages while simultaneously appropriating and integrating ideas and narratives of Arab and Iraqi nationalism. Illustrating three developmental stages of Iraqi intellectual history, she follows Iraqi intellectuals' changing roles, from agents of democracy, to specialists who analyze the population, to deeply entrenched members of society committed to change. Based on previously unexplored material, this eye-opening work has significant contemporary implications.

Genres: Middle East, Nonfiction, History

376 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2008

Reviews

[John]

A fascinating intellectual history of Hashemite Iraq, Bashkin's work really helps to put modern Iraq into proper context. With so much having been written about Saddam's Iraq and post-Saddam Iraq, it's refreshing to read a book that focuses on a preceding era. A must-read for anyone studying modern Iraq!

[Mice Den]

Enlightening! This was a a very informative book on Iraq during the British occupation and the diversity that was prominent then.

I am an Iraqi who is, unfortunately, deeply ignorant of my country’s past; thus, I am glad that I signed to that art competition. I am glad that I got the opportunity to go to that exhibition. And I am glad that I bought this book in my way out.

This book has also given me a new perspective into my Iraqi-shia identity. It explains much of what I always questioned and wondered.

[Dima Asaad]

A reconstruction of the secular history of Iraq that has been invalidated... very straightforward and intriguing