Reading Iraq
Subtitle: culture and power in conflict
By: Muhsin J. al-Musawi
Series: Library of modern Middle East studies -- 51
Publisher: I.B. Tauris; Distributed in the U.S.A. by St. Martin's Press; Brand: I. B. Tauris; I.B.Tauris
Published: 2006
Place of publication: London; New York; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 198
Subjects: Power (Social sciences) -- Iraq; Group identity -- Iraq; Iraq -- Civilization; Iraq -- Politics and government -- 2003-
Description: "What exactly is Iraq? As a dramatic new era of Iraqi politics unfolds, Muhsin al-Musawi seeks to understand it by dissecting the country's cultural anatomy. The first major work of its kind, Reading Iraq explores the profound connection between identity and power in Iraq's history, and in so doing provides a context for understanding today's complicated struggles. Drawing on a mixture of 'high' and popular forms of expression, al-Musawi identifies the prevalent tropes of Iraqi culture, such as symbols of redemptive suffering amongst the Shi'ites, or courage amongst the Bedouins. He examines these symbols in historical and political context, arguing that establishing legitimacy in Iraq is a question of being able to read and respond to a wide variety of cultural signals."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-183) and index