Memory Policy in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the memory policy in the Kurdistan Region Iraq, the main events used in this policy, as well as their interpretation for solving current political problems. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of official statements of political leaders of the region as one of the main ways of interaction between the authorities and society. The events used in the memory policy are considered in the historical context. Monumental policy is analyzed separately. The priority events for the memory policy are related to the struggle for national rights and the repressive measures of the authorities against the Kurds and the population of Kurdistan. The authorities pay special attention to the role of all ethnicities and religious groups of Kurdistan society in the above-mentioned events. The author concludes that the memory politics in Iraqi Kurdistan serves three main purposes: legitimization of its own power, consolidation of a multi-component society, and formation of attitudes toward the central government depending on the current interests of the elite. It is found that the emphasis is on the unique historical experience of Kurdistan, without a common memory with the rest of Iraq, which contributes to the formation of the region’s own national identity and emphasizes the role of all peoples and communities of Kurdistan. Thus, in times of crisis and in controversial issues, the memory politics is an effective tool in shaping the necessary mood in public opinion by appealing to collective memory.