An Introduction to Political Poetry in Contemporary Iraq

Presented in poster format at the Tenth International Conference on Studies of Language and Literature of Nations, Tehran, Iran.

This paper introduces key themes in the development of political poetry in contemporary Iraq, emphasizing its role as a bridge between elite discourse and popular sentiment. Based on library research, it defines the nature of Arab political poetry and the poet’s relationship to public life, with a focus on the Iraqi context. The study highlights two interpretive approaches—realist and pragmatist—and surveys influential figures such as clerics and intellectuals, along with their primary platform: the press. It concludes with a proposed historical periodization of political poetry in Iraq. The paper also briefly references Malek al-Sho’ara Bahar and his intellectual connection to Iraqi political poets.

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