Work

Isolated Resilience: Urban Situation in Baghdad under International Sanctions (1990-2003)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The prolonged crisis caused by international sanctions (1990-2003) forced urban actors in Baghdad to develop strategies to adapt, recover, and restore the city’s functions in the face of internal and external uncertainties. While existing literature on the sanctions predominantly addresses their macro-level political and economic consequences, this paper emphasizes the often-overlooked urban dimensions and the role of local urban actors. It is based on a mixed-methods approach, including fieldwork in Baghdad, archival research, and in-depth interviews with Iraqi experts who worked as consultants at public institutions in the urban planning sector during the sanctions. The study identifies three interrelated factors that shaped the urban situation of Baghdad at the time: international isolation, economic crisis, and institutional constraints. By focusing on the city of Baghdad, this study sheds light on urban challenges and ways of overcoming them during extended man-made crises, contributing to a deeper understanding of urban resilience.

Source: Journal of Urban History

DOI: 10.1177/00961442251372939

Authors: Aleksandra Wojtaszek, Dorota Woroniecka-Krzyżanowska, Ghada Al-Slik

Institutions: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Baghdad

Language: English

Topic: Urban Planning and Governance

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Narodowe Centrum Nauki