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Iraq in Transition takes the reader on a journey from
Iraq’s troubled history through the country’s invasion and
chaotic collapse of governance to the fragile state of political
development today. Along the way, Peter Munson, an officer and
Middle East specialist in the Marine Corps who has participated in
operations in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa, explains
the social, cultural, and political roots of violent conflict and
political confrontation among Iraq’s numerous factions. Instead
of rehashing American policy and ideology, Munson addresses the
local aspects of the crisis, providing a solid basis for
understanding the many important decisions to come regarding the
intervention in Iraq.
This book fills a void in the literature by synthesizing the
available information in both English and Arabic to provide a
unique perspective on the people behind the violent and conflictual
attempt at transition to democracy in Iraq. Utilizing both academic
and military insight, Munson explains how Saddam’s demise and the
crisis of governance that followed produced a vacuum that allowed
narrow and opportunistic sectarian power groups to step into the
breach. The path from the 2003 invasion to the current tenuous
Iraqi state has largely been shaped by legacies of dictatorship.
Striking progress has been made in security and political
development, but Iraqis still have a great deal to overcome to
establish themselves on the slow climb toward a peaceful and stable
democracy. With a foreword by Steven Metz, professor of national
security affairs at the U.S. Army War College and author of Iraq
and the Evolution of American Strategy (Potomac Books, Inc.,
2008).
Highly recommended for academic and community library Iraqi Studies
and International Studies reference collectionsReviewed by Midwest Book Review, 2009-07-15
The beginning of Iraq's transformation from a single-party dictatorship to a multi-party democracy began with the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the subsequent overthrow of Saddam Hussein. As events unfolded it became clear that this was a pre-emptive 'war of choice' on the part of the Bush administration who over the next seven years were to consistently bungle the American occupation of Iraq, the ensuing civil war between warring political and religious factions within the Iraqi population, and the current continuing violence that results in the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi citizens (and the occasion American soldier) every month. That's why "Iraq In Transition: The Legacy Of Dictatorship And The Prospects For Democracy" by combat Marine officer Peter J. Munson is such a timely and useful contribution to our understanding of the political and military forces behind the nightly news headlines from that embroiled nation. "Iraq In Transitions" provides a complete history beginning with how Iraq was formed, the impact of Islam, and the 'rise of the tribes' within Iraq's power structures. Noted is the rise of the Shi'a as a political entity, the Sunni suppression under the Bath party, the post-American invasion insurgencies from 2003 to 2007, Iraq's constitution and elections, and the advances by the American and Iraqi military against the insurgents. Of special note is the concluding chapter regarding what we ourselves have learned from our experiences in Iraq over the past several years and what those 'lessons learned' mean in terms of our future relations in the Middle East and around the world. Enhanced with the inclusion of a selected bibliography, extensive footnotes, and a comprehensive index, "Iraq In Transition" is highly recommended for academic and community library Iraqi Studies and International Studies reference collections, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in understanding the events of the past several years in Iraq and what America can expect in the years to come.
