Author Archives: Mehiyar
How Iraqi academics are overcoming a legacy of intellectual isolation
In recent months, hundreds of online academic webinars have been organised from Iraq as an outcome of the situation arising from COVID-19. Across a wide range of topics and fields of research and discussion – from arts and heritage and archaeology to medicine and engineering – this new trend in Iraqi academia
How Iraqi academics are overcoming a legacy of intellectual isolation
In recent months, hundreds of online academic webinars have been organised from Iraq as an outcome of the situation arising from COVID-19. Across a wide range of topics and fields of research and discussion – from arts and heritage and archaeology to medicine and engineering – this new trend in Iraqi academia
Decolonising Babylon
The popular imagination and the intellectual study of Babylon generally exclude any notion or understanding of the people who live most closely to it. Inscribed in 2019 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, little is known about the ways in
Decolonising Babylon
The popular imagination and the intellectual study of Babylon generally exclude any notion or understanding of the people who live most closely to it. Inscribed in 2019 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, little is known about the ways in
De-development, the era of the impossibility of development and the in-built dysfunction of Iraq’s political system
Since 2003, Iraq has seen remarkably little development, security and peace. The country’s infrastructure is the same if not worse than it was in 2003. Roads, hospitals, schools and many other components of the country’s infrastructure have been severely degraded.
De-development, the era of the impossibility of development and the in-built dysfunction of Iraq’s political system
Since 2003, Iraq has seen remarkably little development, security and peace. The country’s infrastructure is the same if not worse than it was in 2003. Roads, hospitals, schools and many other components of the country’s infrastructure have been severely degraded.
State deconstruction-reconstruction 2.0
In 2003, Iraq was invaded with a project to completely deconstruct the country, and ensure it was beholden to US patronage. The US pursued state dismantlement, namely the disbanding of its security forces, intelligence and army. Iraqis still live with
State deconstruction-reconstruction 2.0
In 2003, Iraq was invaded with a project to completely deconstruct the country, and ensure it was beholden to US patronage. The US pursued state dismantlement, namely the disbanding of its security forces, intelligence and army. Iraqis still live with
Why this merger is bad news for Iraq and international development work
‘Uniting aid with foreign policy’, Prime Minister Boris Johnson just stated, as he unveiled the new merging of the Department for International Development (DfiD) with the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO). What does this mean in practice for a place like
Why this merger is bad news for Iraq and international development work
‘Uniting aid with foreign policy’, Prime Minister Boris Johnson just stated, as he unveiled the new merging of the Department for International Development (DfiD) with the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO). What does this mean in practice for a place like
‘White Guilt’ doesn’t help us address a history of injustice
‘White guilt’ has been one, albeit common, way ‘white people’ within some classes in the UK have responded to the troubled history of British Empire. White guilt works on the notion that white people in UK have benefited, or are
‘White Guilt’ doesn’t help us address a history of injustice
‘White guilt’ has been one, albeit common, way ‘white people’ within some classes in the UK have responded to the troubled history of British Empire. White guilt works on the notion that white people in UK have benefited, or are
A Year of Living Dangerously
The knives are out, and another year of living dangerously awaits Iraq. With bottom-dollar oil prices and a drug-like dependency on oil to fuel something called the ‘economy’, this and the next year will ultimately see the unravelling of the
A Year of Living Dangerously
The knives are out, and another year of living dangerously awaits Iraq. With bottom-dollar oil prices and a drug-like dependency on oil to fuel something called the ‘economy’, this and the next year will ultimately see the unravelling of the
Protected: The emerging challenges of US-European conservation projects in Iraq
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: The emerging challenges of US-European conservation projects in Iraq
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Why Iraq’s archaeology and heritage will continue to crumble
In the past few weeks Ive been writing quite a bit about the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH), which is Iraq’s main antiquities state institution. I want to highlight a number of key points that readers may find
Why Iraq’s archaeology and heritage will continue to crumble
In the past few weeks Ive been writing quite a bit about the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH), which is Iraq’s main antiquities state institution. I want to highlight a number of key points that readers may find
The Crisis of International Development 