How occupations have influenced culture

In the context of political sociology, culture is considered part of the upper structure of society, defined according to economic production modes and the relation to production tools.

Accordingly, the culture of a nomadic society is different from that of an agrarian society, which in turn is different from that of a modern society.

Culture is also considered as one of the most important elements that binds people living together in a particular country.

There are several different cultural layers in every society; some are old and have what it takes to continue, and others have modern aspects.

Slang or popular language is also considered a basic element in culture, since it reflects the collective psyche of the people and the individual's psychology.

The culture of a certain society is affected by its surroundings and the events that take place within the society.

The size of that effect and its swift impact depends on the nature of the event and its source.

In the long run, ordinary daily events are important as they affect the cultural structure of the society. However, this process is very slow, in contrast to huge events which change the mode and feelings of a society in a shocking and fundamental manner.

The British occupation of Iraq in 1917 may be considered as one of the great political and social events, which led to a significant bend, affecting the Iraqi individual from every aspect.

The Ottoman Empire, which ruled Iraq for eight centuries declined, but left behind its imprints on the daily life of the Iraqis.

The sudden change brought about by the British occupation in Iraq led to the emergence of new cultural features in the Iraqi society.

Most of those changes were based on two basic elements: the first was the different religious affiliation of Iraqis and their occupiers. This led to issuing of fatwas against cooperation with the occupier who were regarded as enemies. Hence, it was a taboo to side with the occupiers.

The second was the tribal mode of the Iraqi society, which entails basic principles such as defending both land and honour, the two fundamental factors in tribal norms and traditions.

The circumstances of the US occupation of 2003 were different at the local, regional and international level. As such it contributed to the decline of the religious factor.

The factor of defending land and honour was equally paralysed, as Iraqi sentiments regarded the occupier as a friend and saviour.

During the Iraqi revolution of 1920 against the British occupation, a special kind of literature emerged, including poems, songs and chants. New trends arose in this literature, which used names of battle locations, tribal heads and heroes.

This continued until Iraq got rid of the British influence for good on July 14, 1958. But since the downfall of Baghdad in 2003, the new culture has not been able to translate itself into words which are able to win peoples' minds and hearts.

Many writers who were under tremendous pressure during the reign of the previous regime welcomed the occupation. In other words, those Iraqi writers did not see in the occupation the image of a foe that needs to be fought with words of poetry and articles.

Some Iraqi intellectuals forgot their principles and duty towards Iraqis, amidst the limitless freedom after the downfall of Baghdad.

Widening the gap

One of the first cultural concepts yielded by the occupation is the fact that April 9, 2003 is celebrated as a National Day and a holiday as well. Some Iraqis accept this fact and celebrate, but others refuse to acknowledge the date, thereby further widening the gap between Iraqis.

Usually, the intellectuals play a pioneering role in society, and I do not wish to say that the duty of such people is to abide by the rules of their vocation, as culture is not a vocation in itself.

Moreover, intellectuals are no ordinary civil servants and they serve in the department of collective conscious, which calls for the presence of integrity.

The cultural, political and moral decline in Iraq has reached an unprecedented level. It is a very sad case when we see the cultured and learned people leave their sacred locations. It is also sad to see some unknown writers spreading hatred and sectarian politics on Iraq-related websites.

Dr Mohammad Akif Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.