Poetry as a Weapon: Art and Anti-Imperialist Struggle in Iraq
Kevin Jones
Abstract
This article explores the role of poetry as a political instrument in anti-imperialist and revolutionary struggle in twentieth-century Iraq through an interview with historian Kevin Jones. Challenging dominant Western conceptions of poetry as an abstract and depoliticized art form, the article demonstrates how poetry in Iraq functioned as a mass cultural practice deeply embedded in political life. It examines the historical conditions that enabled poetry to serve as a vehicle for mobilization, including its oral and performative character, its accessibility across class divisions, and its emergence alongside mass politics under colonial rule. The article traces the development of "rebel poets" across three generations, highlighting their evolving relationship to nationalist and communist movements, particularly the Iraqi Communist Party. It further analyzes poetry's dual function as both a tool of agitation and a form of political pressure, capable of legitimizing or destabilizing ruling authority. By foregrounding poetry as a collective event rather than a purely textual artifact, the article argues that its revolutionary potential lies in its integration with lived political struggle. The Iraqi experience thus offers broader insights into the conditions under which art can transcend commodified passivity and become an active force in anti-imperialist movements.
Keywords
Anti-Imperialism, Cultural Production, Iraqi Communist Party, Political Poetry, Revolutionary Art
