Sectarianism in Iraq provides valuable insight into the complex interactions of social, religious, political, and ideational dynamics all too often referred to as being solely responsible for the near-civil war of 2006-2007. Haddad presents a nuanced, balanced, and at times provocative account of why Iraqis of different sectarian colors committed atrocious acts against each other while maintaining a near-identical narrative of their nationalist views. Sectarianism in Iraq is a powerful and insightful analysis of one of the most catastrophic events in modern Iraqi history.
(Gareth Stansfield, director of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter )
Lucid and intriguing, Fanar Haddad's book crosses the minefield of sectarianism in Iraq with great success. By focusing on sectarian relations and by analyzing various levels of culture, Haddad ably circumvents the stringencies of the dominant version of Iraqi nationalism and its discourse, which silences any attempt to touch the sectarian issue. This vanguard study paves the way for further interpretation of this sensitive subject.
(Ronen Zeidel, director of research at the Center for Iraq Studies, University of Haifa )
A must for those who would like to understand present day Iraq.
(Ghassan Atiyyah, director of the Iraq Foundation for Development and Democracy )
Sectarianism in Iraq sets a new standard for the academic debate about sectarianism in Middle Eastern politics. Fanar Haddad explains the apparent paradox of why there is both a drive for continued sectarian coexistence in Iraq and frequent breakdowns of that lofty ideal. By zeroing in on the dynamics of sectarian polarization in 1991 and 2006, he makes intelligible the continued search by Iraqi leaders for coexistence in a unified territorial framework, even in the midst of seemingly intractable positions.
(Reidar Visser, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs )
Sectarianism in Iraq as a vanguard work in this field will be an informative book for those who would like to understand the Iraq of today.
(Selahaddin Ozel
The Pen Magazine 9/29/2011)
Fanar Haddad has tackled one of the most difficult aspects of Iraqi politics and society, providing numerous insights and a rich empirical data base.
(Eric Davis
Middle East Journal Winter 2012, Vol 66, No 1)
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