Iraq’s modern history is often told through war and geopolitics, but far less often through memory, trauma, and survival. In this lecture, Dr. Roy explores Iraq through the intertwined lenses of genocide, imperial ambition, and the fragile dreams that persist in the aftermath of destruction. Dr. Roy traces how repeated foreign interventions, authoritarian rule, and ethnic targeting reshaped Iraqi society, leaving deep scars that continue to shape the region today.

Takeaways:

• Iraq’s borders and political systems were imposed through imperial decisions rather than organic state formation.
• The Kurdish people experienced systematic genocide under the Ba’athist regime, including the Anfal campaign.
• Chemical weapons were used against civilian populations, most notably at Halabja, with long-term generational consequences.
• Dreams, art, and memory often become forms of resistance when political expression is suppressed.
• Authoritarian regimes rely on fear, fragmentation, and silence to maintain control.
• Foreign powers repeatedly prioritized strategic interests over human life and stability.
• Trauma does not end with violence and continues to shape identity, trust, and governance.
• Post-invasion Iraq struggled to reconcile justice, memory, and reconstruction.
• Genocide leaves cultural and psychological wounds that persist long after regimes fall.
• Understanding Iraq requires listening to voices beyond headlines and military timelines.

Resources & References:

• The Anfal Campaign
• The Halabja Chemical Attack (and its long-term effects)
• Ba’athist Iraq and Saddam Hussein
• The Iran-Iraq War 
• The Gulf War 
• The 2003 Invasion of Iraq
• Kurdish History in Iraq
• Genocide Convention of 1948
• Postwar Trauma and Memory Studies

Beyond the podcast: 

• Want to watch this lecture? Check out the full video. 
• Want to support the show? Buy Roy a coffee!