Iraq Between Occupations

This edited volume represents a re-examination of the most central issues in the history of the Iraqi nation state until the American occupation (1920-2003) and, in the light of that history, a re-evaluation of developments under the occupation (2003-2008).

Achim Rohde is a Middle East historian at Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, where he is Coordinator of the research network "Re-Configurations. History, Memory, and Transormative Processes in the Middle East and North Africa" (http://www.uni-marburg.de/cnms/forschung/re-konfigurationen). He is the author of State-Society Relations in Ba'thist Iraq: Facing Dictatorship (2010).

"The 14 essays that make up this book offer an in-depth, multidisciplinary analysis of the political and sociocultural transformation of Iraq from its foundation by the British as a nation-state in the 1920s to its occupation by the US-led coalition forces in 2003...The writers, who include a distinguished group of scholars specializing in Iraq's ethnic organization and political culture, provide incisive and often fresh perspectives on key aspects of that country's complex and turbulent history. They include the interplay between communal and national identity, the different attempts at state formation and nation building, the role of women, and the changing role of the military under the Republican and Ba'athist regimes...This authoritative volume is a valuable contribution to understanding modern Iraq and its tortured history. Recommended." - Choice

'The editors have assembled an impressive list of specialists on Iraq to evaluate salient and contested themes in Iraqi history, politics, and society from the days of the monarchy through the Republican and Saddamist periods to the current post-2003 era. The analysis is uniformly rigorous, balanced, and illuminating, and the various studies are extensively- researched yet concise and to the point. There is much of value in this book to the specialist as well as to the general reader.' - Adeed Dawisha, Distinguished Professor, Miami University. Author of Iraq: A Political History from Independence to Occupation

'This fine collection of essays is must reading for anyone who seeks to understand the past and present of Iraq and the implications for the country's future. The authors provide authoritative accounts of that troubled country's history and the interplay of external powers and internal actors. They deftly integrate the successive phases of Iraq's political evolution from the twentieth into the twenty-first century, treating questions of identity, religion, democracy, nation building, monarchy, dictatorship, war, occupation, and insurgency. This is an exceptional one-volume work, invaluable for understanding this complex land.' - Robert J. Lieber, professor of Government & International Affairs, Georgetown University

'Iraq Between Occupations assembles a superb set of scholars to critically assess a pivotal historical era that continues to influence post-Saddam Iraq. By elucidating the subtle and complex interplay of domestic and external factors in the shaping of the Iraqi state, the volume is an invaluable resource for policymakers and students of contemporary Middle East politics.' - Robert S. Litwak, Vice President for Programs, Woodrow Wilson Center

'This is perhaps one of the most comprehensive analyses of modern Iraq. It successfully tackles all the important aspects of Iraq's transformation, from its new identity to its societal divisions and the rise of new actors, without ignoring the historical context. Aptly named, Iraq Between Occupations, this collection of essays explore the trials and tribulations of state formation in Iraq. It is diverse, rich, and innovative in its approach and is bound to become an essential reading for all who want to understand Iraq's tortuous and unfinished trajectory.' - Henri J. Barkey, Lehigh University and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

'This excellent collection brings together contributions by a new generation of Iraq historians with those of some of the most seasoned experts in the field. The quality and breadth of the articles is remarkable - from the latest trends in research to impressive overview essays. Both readers who seek reliable background information on Iraqi history and politics and those looking for exciting new insights will find this volume a most useful resource.' - Peter Wien teaches Middle Eastern History at the University of Maryland