Influences in the Development of Modern Day Iraq

Paper Summary:

The author of this paper examines historical, geographical and religious factors that influenced the development of modern day Iraq. The author contends that within the development of the state of Iraq there are two basic themes of historical continuity from ancient times to the present day: (1) creation and construction of the state (2) the process of economic and social development. Within these two themes there is a constant struggle to come together and to divide. The writer further states that Iraq has had a significant historical struggle with unity, as a result of many centuries of social, economic and political dominance of one group over another, be they ancient rulers or modern "secular" leaders. The paper goes on to examine aspects of that "historical struggle".

From the Paper:

"From the more general theory, of geography and foreign interferance one must then discuss the ancient conflict between schools of the same faith, Sunni and Shi' Islam have been in constant struggle for power and representation over the years and to this day there is a clear sense that even modern representations of each of these schools are in a constant struggle to have their foundations build the nation and dominate the social and political arena. This point demonstrated well in the ebb and flow of history represented by Hourani, where he points out that the center of what became modern Iraq (Baghdad) is dominated by the Shi and to some degree still is, while the Sunni are frequently underrepresented and living on the fringes. (p. 35) The differences and similarities of these two faiths have driven them to different ends, and has frequently been the source of much conflict among even the most modern inhabitants of the nation, as it is reflected in a constant struggle to divide, and come together through representation and exclusion."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Roux, G. (1993) Ancient Iraq, New York: Penguin USA
• Hourani, A. (1997) A History of the Arab Peoples, New York: Fine Creative Media.
• Tripp, C. (2002) History of Iraq, Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

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