State of Repression: Iraq under Saddam Hussein

State of Repression challenges the conventional wisdom about Iraq's sectarian divisions by showing that the country's breakdown was far from inevitable. It illuminates the complexities of political life in Iraq, including why certain Iraqis chose to collaborate with the regime and why others worked to undermine it. It also offers a new explanation of why and how dictators repress their people in ways that can inadvertently strengthen regime opponents.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Iraq's modern political history has long been understood to be shaped by its diverse social fabric, leading to its downfall as one of the most repressive dictatorships of the late 20th century. However, in her book "State of Repression," Lisa Blaydes challenges this conventional wisdom by arguing that Iraq's breakdown was far from inevitable. Blaydes delves into the complexities of political life in Iraq, exploring why some Iraqis chose to collaborate with the regime while others worked to undermine it. Through a comprehensive analysis of archival material captured from the headquarters of Saddam Hussein's ruling Ba'ath Party following the 2003 US invasion, Blaydes sheds light on the inner workings of the regime and its attempts to maintain control over a society divided by identity.

Despite the Ba'athist regime's claims of political hegemony, Blaydes demonstrates that it frequently relied on collective punishment of various groups, further reinforcing and cementing identity divisions within Iraqi society. At the same time, a series of costly external shocks to the economy, resulting from fluctuations in oil prices and Iraq's war with Iran, weakened the regime's capacity to monitor, co-opt, coerce, and control factions of Iraqi society.

In addition to challenging the common narrative of modern Iraqi politics, "State of Repression" offers a novel explanation of why and how dictators repress their people in ways that can inadvertently strengthen regime opponents. Blaydes' book provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of authoritarian regimes and their populations, offering a fresh perspective on the challenges of political stability and governance in the Middle East.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 185 x 234 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691211756