Engineering > Urban Studies and Planning > The Politics of Reconstructing Iraq

The Politics of Reconstructing Iraq posted by duggu on 2/6/2008

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This course features lecture notes and student projects.

Course Description

This course is being offered in conjunction with the colloquium The Politics of Reconstructing Iraq, which is sponsored by MIT’s Center for International Studies and Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Fundamentally, the course focuses on contemporary post-conflict countries (or in-conflict countries) and the role of planning and reconstruction in building nations, mitigating conflicts, reshaping the social, spatial, geopolitical, and political life, and determining the country’s future.

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Sample video lectures

Technical Requirements

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Syllabus

Overview

This course is being offered in conjunction with the colloquium The Politics of Reconstructing Iraq, which is sponsored by MIT's Center for International Studies and Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Fundamentally, the course focuses on contemporary post-conflict countries (or in-conflict countries) and the role of planning and reconstruction in building nations, mitigating conflicts, reshaping the social, spatial, geopolitical, and political life, and determining the country's future.

Iraq is an in-conflict country. Its people live under foreign occupation and experience daily confrontations and hostilities. The country is politically unstable, nationally fragmented, and deeply divided along sectarian lines. The involvement of Iraq in several wars since 1979, thirteen years of international sanctions, and its occupation by the U.S. and its allies since April 2003 have left a physically ravaged and socially fragmented country. In this context, Iraq represents in-conflict countries such as Afghanistan, where conflict prevails and determines the social, political, and economic life of the country and its people.

Since its occupation of Iraq, the U.S. has been promoting a grand project and supposedly a comprehensive plan aiming to rebuild "a new Iraq" through restructuring its infrastructure, economy, society, and politics. The Congress approved $18.44 billion for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The project is managed by the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. Additionally, many American corporations are involved in the reconstruction mission.

Besides the U.S. reconstruction project in Iraq, different global organizations have proposed social and economic plans for rebuilding the country, such as the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In addition many countries support the reconstruction mission, such as the Group of Seven industrialized countries (G7) and fifty other donor countries.

Aims of the Course

The main objectives of the course are as follows:

To offer students theoretical and practical tools and skills to understand the politics behind grand projects of post-conflict and in-conflict countries reconstructing and nation-building.
To illuminate the role of social, economic, physical, and spatial planning in the reconstruction of these countries.
To present and discuss in depth diverse perspectives on the reconstruction of Iraq through a variety of lenses, and to illuminate Iraq's spatial, economic, social, and political complexities.

Themes of the Course

The course is composed of eleven sessions parallel to the seminar on Iraq. Each session presents and discusses specific aspects of a reconstruction theme. In brief, the course presents the following themes: planning theories and the concepts of nation-building and post-conflict reconstruction; lessons from the reconstruction of Germany and Japan after the Second World War, the reconstruction of Bosnia, and the reconstruction of Afghanistan; U.S. planning for post-war Iraq; the current U.S. reconstruction project in Iraq; the constructing of "a new Iraq" and "a new Middle East"; planning for liberal economy, democracy, and civil society in Iraq; the role of international organizations in reconstructing post-conflict countries; and planning for stability amidst insurgency and political conflict.

Course Requirements

Students are expected to read and critically assess the course readings, participate in the Institute-wide seminar (Participation: 20%), and present a paper/chapter/report that is related to the reconstruction of Iraq (Presentation: 80%). The students are not asked to write a paper. Themes for presentations- examples:

Economic restructuring
The role of international organizations in reconstruction
The profile of the contractors
Strategies and plans for reconstruction!
Implementation of projects
Civil society and reconstruction
Gender issues in reconstruction
Political reconstruction and building a new democracy
The social reconstruction
Reconstruction and the status of the capital: Baghdad in the case of Iraq
Critical reading (social, cultural, economic, …) for the reconstruction project

Grading Criteria
Activities	gradings
Participation	20%
Presentation	80%

Calendar

The calendar below provides information on the course's lecture (L), and colloquium (C) sessions.

Course schedule.
ses #	Topics
L1	Introduction
L2	Planning, Politics and the Idea of Post-Conflict Reconstruction
C1	U.S. Planning and Realities of Post-war Iraq Lawrence Vale: Professor/Head, Department of Urban Studies and Planning Richard Samuels - Professor, Director of the Center for International Studies at MIT David J. Nash: Former Director of Iraq Project and Contracting Office; Baghdad Harvey Sapolsky: Professor and Director of the MIT Security Studies Program Charles N. Patterson: Consultant and founder of Global Communications
L3	International Experience: Marshall Plan, the Reconstruction of Japan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
L4	The U.S. Post-September 11 Reconstruction Agenda
C2	Politics and Society in Iraq in the 20th Century Sami Zubaida: Professor of Politics and Sociology, Birkbeck University of London
L5	Social and Political Background for Reconstruction: Politics and Society in Iraq in the 20-21st Century
C3	Comparative Insights: Marshall Plan, Japan, and Iraq John Dower: Professor of Japanese history at MIT Charles S. Maier: Professor of History at Harvard University
L6	Post-war Planning: Visioning 'A New Iraq' and 'A New Middle East'
L7	The U.S. Reconstruction Agenda and Projects in Iraq
L8	Constructing a New Liberal Economy in Iraq In Addition to an Example From Afghanistan
C4	Reconstructing 'A New Liberal Iraq' Robert Looney: Professor of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School Kenneth Pollack: Director of Research, Saban Center for Middle East Policy
L9	Political Reconstruction: Building a New Democracy
C5	Consolidating Iraqi Democracy: The Institutional Context Noah Feldman: Professor, New York University School of Law Kanan Makiya
L10	The Role of International Organization in Post-Conflict Reconstructing
L11	The Discourse of Iraqis and Arabs on the Reconstruction of a New Iraq
C6	The Arab Discourse on Iraq and the International Role Richard McCall: Director of the Communities in Transition Creative Associates International Hafez Mirazi: Washington Bureau Chief for Al-Jazeera Television
L12	Conclusions and Critiques: Planning and Reconstruction; Vision and realities; Stability and Resistance in Iraq
C7	Reconstructing 'A New Middle East' Stephen Van Evera: Professor of Political Science at MIT Naseer Aruri: Chancellor Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth Balakrishnan Rajagopal: Professor, Director of MIT Program on Human Rights and Justice
L13	Criticism
L14	Representations: The Idea of Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Readings

Course Readings
SES #	Topics	Readings
L1	Introduction
L2	Planning, Politics and the Idea of Post-Conflict Reconstruction	Orr, Robert C., ed. Winning the Peace: An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction. CSIS Significant Issues, No. 26. The CSIS Press, 2004. ISBN: 0892064447. The World Bank. Post-Conflict Reconstruction: The Role of the World Bank. Washington, DC: 1998. ISBN: 0821342150. Azimi, Nassrine, Matt Fuller, and Hiroko Nakayama, eds. Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor and Afghanistan. Proceedings of an international conference in Hiroshima. New York, NY: UNITAR, 2003. Addison, Tony, ed. Chapters 1 and 2 in From Conflict to Recovery in Africa. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003, pp. 1-29. ISBN: 0199261032. Michailof, Serge, Markus Kostner, Xavier Devictor, and Tony Addison. Post-Conflict Recovery in Africa: An Agenda for the Africa Region. Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 30, 2002. Vale, Lawrence J., and Thomas J. Campanella, eds. The Resilient City: How Modern Cities Recover from Disaster. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN: 0195175832.
L3	International Experience: Marshall Plan, the Reconstruction of Japan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina	Dower, John W. "Chapters: Introduction, and Part VI: Reconstruction." In Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company/The New Press, 1999, pp. 19-30, and pp. 525-547. ISBN: 0393046869. Orr, Robert C., ed. "Japan: Occupation as Means to a 'Citadel of Democracy in the East'." In Winning the Peace: An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction. CSIS Significant Issues, No. 26. Washington, DC: The CSIS Press, 2004, pp. 169-192. ISBN: 0892064447. Maier, Charles S., ed. The Marshall Plan and Germany: West German Development within the Framework of the European Recovery Program. With the assistance of Günter Bischof. New York, NY: Berg, 1991. ISBN: 0854963065. Hogan, Michael J. The Marshall Plan: America, Britain, and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1947- 1952. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1987. ISBN: 0521378400. The World Bank. "OED - Operations Evaluation Department." In Bosnia and Herzegovina: Post-Conflict reconstruction and the Transition to a Market Economy: an OED Evaluation of World Bank Support . Washington, DC: 2004. ISBN: 0821359789.
L4	The U.S. Post-September 11 Reconstruction Agenda	Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Association of the U.S. Army. Play to Win: Final Report of the bi-partisan Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction. U.S.A., 2003. Vaishnav, Milan. "Afghanistan: The Chimera of the 'Light Footprint'." In Winning the Peace: An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction. CSIS Significant Issues, No. 26. Edited by Robert C. Orr. Washington, DC: The CSIS Press, 2004, pp. 244-262. ISBN: 0892064447. Orr, Robert C., ed. "An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction." In Winning the Peace: An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction. CSIS Significant Issues, No. 26. Washington, DC: The CSIS Press, 2004, pp. 169-192. ISBN: 0892064447. Fujimura, Manabu.Post-Conflict Reconstruction: the Afghan Economy. Tokyo: Asian Development Bank Institute, 2004. ISBN: 4899740034. World Bank. Afghanistan World Bank Approach Paper. 2001. Hanlon, Michael E. O. "The Aid and Reconstruction Agenda for Afghanistan." Analysis Paper 13. Policy Review (2001).
L5	Social and Political Background for Reconstruction: Politics and Society in Iraq in the 20-21st Century	Nakash, Yitzhak. The Shi'is of Iraq. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994. ISBN: 0691034311. Dodge, Toby. Iraq Transformed: Violence, Poverty and War. London, UK: Blackwell Publishers, 2004. ISBN: 140511679X. ———. Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 2003. ISBN: 0231131666. Dodge, Toby, and Steven Simon, eds. Iraq at the Crossroads: State and Society in the Shadow of Regime Change. Oxford, UK and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN: 019852837X. Anderson, Liam, and Gareth Stansfield. Chapters 1 to 7 in The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy or Division? New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004. ISBN: 1403963541.
L6	Post-war Planning: Visioning 'A new Iraq' and 'A New Middle East'	Dodge, Toby, and Richard Higgott, eds. Globalization and the Middle East: Islam, Economy, Society, and Politics. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2002. ISBN: 1862031347. Katzman, Kenneth. "Iraq's Opposition Movement." CRS Report for Congress. June 27, 2000.
L7	The U.S. Reconstruction Agenda and Projects in Iraq	Halchin, L. Elaine. "The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA): Origin, Characteristics, and Institutional Authorities." CRS Report for Congress. April 29, 2004. Waterhouse, Michael, and Carolyn C. Smith. "Iraq Reconstruction Resources: Fact Sheet." CRS Report for Congress. September 24, 2003. Hanlon, Michael E. O. "Iraq without a Plan." Policy Review (January, 2005). Copson, Raymond W. "Iraq War? Current Situation and Issues for Congress." CRS Report for Congress. Updated February 12, 2003. ———. "Iraq War: Background and Issues Overview." CRS Report for Congress. Updated April 22, 2003. ———. "Iraq: Recent Developments in Reconstruction Assistance." CRS Report for Congress. Updated April 22, 2003. Cordesman, Anthony H. "Nation Building in Iraq: A Status Report." Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2004.
L8	Constructing a New Liberal Economy in Iraq. In Addition to an Example From Afghanistan	Alnasrawi, Abbas. Iraq's Burdens: Oil, Sanctions, and Underdevelopment. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. ISBN: 031332459X. ———. The Economy of Iraq: Oil, Wars, Destruction of Development and Prospects, 1950-2010. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. ISBN: 0313291861. Looney, Robert. "Neoliberalism in a Conflict State: The Viability of Economic Shock Therapy in Iraq." Strategic Insights 3, no. 6 (June 2004). International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Economic Development of Iraq. (At the Request of the Government of Iraq.) Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1952.
L9	Political Reconstruction: Building a New Democracy	Feldman, Noah. What We Owe Iraq: War and the Ethics of Nation Building. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2004. ISBN: 0691121796. Anderson, Liam, and Gareth Stansfield. "The Democracy Dilemma." Chapter 8 in The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy or Division? New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, pp. 185-224. ISBN: 1403963541. Kovsted, Jens, and Finn Tarp. "Reconstruction, Reform, and State Capacity in Guinea-Bissau." In From Conflict to Recovery in Africa. Edited by Tony Addison. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003, pp. 206-227. ISBN: 0199261032. Katzman, Kenneth. "Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance." CRS Report for Congress. October 22, 2004. Rajagopal, Balakrishnan. "From Modernization to Democratization: The Political Economy of the "New" International Law." In Reframing the International: Law, Culture, Politics . Edited by Richard Falk, Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, and R. B. J Welker. New York, NY: Routledge, 2002, pp. 137-162. ISBN: 0415931762. Halperin, Morton, Joseph T. Siegle, and Michael M. Weinstein. Chapter 1 in The Democracy Advantage: How Democracies Promote Prosperity and Peace. New York, NY: Routledge, 2005, pp. 1-24. ISBN: 041595052X.
L10	The Role of International Organization in Post-Conflict Reconstructing	"Post-Conflict Reconstruction: The Role of the World Bank for Reconstruction." Washington, DC: 1998. ISBN: 0821342150. Coipuram, Tom. "Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian Aid Organizations." Report for Congress. March 1, 2003. April 2003 updated version.
L11	The Discourse of Iraqis and Arabs on the Reconstruction of a New Iraq	Khalidi, Rashid. Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path in the Middle East. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2004. ISBN: 0807002348. Hassan, Abu Taleb. "Illusion of Reform." Al-Ahram Weekly. April 25, 2004. Said, Abdel-Moneim. "Heavenly Pursuits." Al-Ahram Weekly. February 2, 2004.
L12	Conclusions and Critiques: Planning and Reconstruction; Vision and Realities; Stability and Resistance in Iraq	Braude, Joseph. The New Iraq: Rebuilding the Country for Its People, the Middle East, and the World. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2003. ISBN: 0465007880. Cordesman, Anthony H. "Transnational Threats: The Emerging Strategic Lessons from the U.S. Intervention in Iraq." Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2003. Recommended Movie Antoon, Sinan, Dir. About Baghdad.
L13	Criticism	Open Society Institute and the United Nations Foundation. Iraq in Transition: Post-Conflict Challenges and Opportunities2004. Said, Edward. "Global Crisis Over Iraq: The Alternative United States." MIFTAH, March 20, 2003. ———. "Orientalism 25 Years Later: Worldly Humanism v. the Empire-builders." In Orientalism. 25th Anniversary Edition. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 2003. ISBN: 039474067X.
L14	Representations: The Idea of Post-Conflict Reconstruction