Introduction

During the semester the war in Iraq will move into its fifth year. What was once expected to be the easy ouster of a dangerous tyrant that might amount the first step in remaking the Middle East has become a difficult, deteriorating, multifaceted war of occupation, attrition and sectarian vengence. As the U.S. embarks on an altered military and political strategy in hopes of salvaging its original goals in Iraq, now is an opportune time to take a step back and consider the origins and trajectory of this war

Politics 439 will do that by examining the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, the invasion itself, the occupation and rise of the insurgency. The broader setting of the Global War on Terror, as well as Iraqi history and the trajectory of U.S.-Iraqi relations will also be considered. We will also examine the war from multiple points of view, from policymakers and advisors in Washington, the soldiers racing to Bagdhad in 2003, to ordinary Iraqis trying to live their lives.

Course Objectives

As a 400-level seminar, students are expected to enter the course possessing the tools to analyze politics, should possess some knowledge of international relations and broad U.S. foreign policy, and finally, will have kept up to date on developments relating to the Iraq war. By the time the course is over, students should be able to thoughtfully address the following questions:

• What was the nature of the Ba'athist regime and what were its historical relations to the U.S.?
• What are broad U.S. strategic interests in Iraq and the surrounding region?
• How did the terrorist attacks of 9/11 change the political landscape in Washington around Iraq?
• What political divisions existed in the U.S. regarding invading Iraq?
• What was the nature of war planning and post-war preparations?
• How do we characterize the record of the Coalition Provisional Authority in working to rebuild post-Saddam Iraq?
• What is the nature of the insurgency in Iraq? Who are the main players and what are their motives?
• What has the war done to ordinary Iraqis and ordinary Americans who have served in Iraq?
• What kind of war exists in Iraq today? What credible options exist for the future?

 

• Students will also further develop analytical skills along with those of writing and researching in the social science tradition.