The New Iraq: The Uses of Historical Memory

This article examines the idea that historical memory can assist democratic transitions, delving into how this idea applies to the case of Iraq. “Historical memory” is defined as the collective understanding that a specific group of people shares about past events which this group perceives as having shaped its current economic, cultural, social, and political status and identity. How this memory shapes Iraq’s democratization is important not only in understanding Iraq, but in understanding the conditions under which democracy prospers.