Political Discourse in Iraq
Dr. Alaa Hamid Idris
Before 2003, Iraq was dominated by a single political discourse, emanating from the head of the former regime. This regime controlled every aspect of the discourse and defined its purpose. This discourse became well-known to everyone who wanted to understand the regime's purpose. The situation changed after 2003, and we are faced with more than one discourse.
Rather, everyone with status and influence was required to produce a discourse and send it to their recipients. The multiplicity of discourses after the removal of the Ba'ath regime revealed an ongoing contradiction between the contents of those discourses. These discourses lacked clear references that controlled the vocabulary sent to their recipients.
The multiplicity of discourses has pointed to the widening division and disagreement within society, as we note that there is religious and social discourse in addition to the political one. In religious discourse, we find its audio and visual sources in various forms, including sermons delivered from the pulpit. As for social discourse, it is present and directly influential in society through social media.
Especially its tangible impact on the youth category, whose features began to take shape after the regime changed and whose sources became multiple. There is what is written on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) about social issues that are put forward for discussion and dialogue, and what distinguishes social discourse is that it is not governed by limitations or controls.