Peter J. Munson to MESH:

I hope that this book adds to the body of literature on democratic transition, which shows that foreign policy cannot be based on rosy assumptions and glib hopes of miraculous transformations. At the same time, just because Iraq was such a mess does not mean we should not attempt to draw insight from it. Many lessons can be learned from Iraq and used to help other states facing more gradual transformation away from authoritarian rule toward some sort of socially acceptable hybrid, if not outright democracy.

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Product Description

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).

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #976359 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 332 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781597973007
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Review
"Maj. Peter Munson provides a powerful and erudite explanation of what he calls `the strange ways of Iraqi politics,' illuminating what Americans have learned in six torturous years and suggesting what we should have known from the beginning." --From the foreword by Steven Metz, author of Iraq and the Evolution of American Strategy

Review
"Peter Munson brings his expert knowledge, interest, and experience to this superb work. He describes, in depth, those factors of culture and history that worked against the overly optimistic assessments of Pentagon planners in the work up to the Iraq intervention. This is a must-read for those who want to understand the critical lessons of failing to include a true understanding of complex cultures and situations in planning for war."

Review
"Peter Munson has written a highly accessible and empathetic history of the Iraq war. Drawing on diverse sources and his own personal observations, he identifies the social, political, and economic factors that have shaped Iraqi society, and he charts how the U.S. mission in Iraq has unfolded since the fall of Baghdad. Munson's understanding of academic works on Iraq and debates in policy-making circles is impressive. He has combined that insight with a soldier's ground-level observations to provide a unique perspective. Instructive, informed, well researched, objective, and thoughtful, the book does well to make accessible complex issues to general readers, and all along remains true to other interpretations by academics, journalists, and policy-makers."

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Customer Reviews

Highly recommended for academic and community library Iraqi Studies and International Studies reference collections
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.