Iraq
Cohesion
 The
OICD is currently preparing to commit a team to work on developing
media campaigns to help build cultural cohesion and defuse conflict
in Iraq. In aiming to develop cohesion—giving a sense of grounded,
historically appropriate, and diversity-acknowledging identity to
the Iraqi people—the OICD campaign team sets out to achieve
the following:
1.
The building of a foundation for the development of cohesive and diverse
cultural and national senses of identity
In the
context of work in Iraq, these campaigns would focus on developing
a sense of cultural and national integration and on building upon
the existing cultural and historical roots of the diverse Iraqi peoples.
This focus involves assembling cultural motifs, symbols and historical
narratives which allow people to reconnect and to celebrate Iraqi
identity, while also developing the critical notion that this diverse
nation is an increasingly valued member of the world stage.
In helping to accomplish this, the OICD team aims to encourage the
participation of Iraqi people responding to the campaigns, providing
channels for the development of complementary local initiatives, events
and cultural forums.
2.
The neutralising of influences of divisive propaganda
In a region which has suffered greatly under concerted efforts to
rally the population against significant others, reintegrating a sense
of common world membership and displacing previously implanted ideas
of cultural or national particularism, is a priority.
The celebration of Iraqi culture and history in a global context (as
outlined in 1, above) is an important part of this strategy. In addition,
direct counter measures, such as a progressive re-arrangement and
re-presentation of key aspects of instilled divisive propaganda, (e.g.
distorted cultural/historical roots and interpretations), are employed,
based on extensive current and ongoing anthropological research.
3.
The diffusion of sectarian and nationalist conflict
Conflict-causing militant sectors of society often draw on outdated
and marginal cultural symbolism and sectarian narratives to produce
their collective identity.
As part of its remit, OICD campaigning focuses on reaching out to
problematic, conflict-causing sectors of society. These groups are
presented with alternative cultural representations which identify
their social contexts and concerns. This is done in order to give
these conflict-causing sectors a sense of inclusiveness within the
larger cultural narrative and to encourage their movement towards
it.
The use of focus groups and extensive interviewing with militant sectors
during the campaign development phase will inform the campaign team
of the best ways to target to and influence these groups.
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