Currency as a tool for nation-building : the case of Iraq

Abstract

The following dissertation examines the role of currency imagery in the nation-building process in Iraq, highlighting how banknotes and coins have been used as instruments of political messaging and national identity construction. While the study of nationalism often focuses on political discourse, state institutions, or historical narratives, this research shifts the attention to material culture, specifically currency, as a widespread, daily tool through which national identity is projected and reinforced. By examining a wide range of Iraqi banknotes and coins issued from 1931 till the present day, the study explores how symbolic elements such as ancient Mesopotamian motifs, Islamic architecture, industrial progress, and images of political leaders have been employed to convey specific ideologies. Ultimately, this dissertation argues that Iraqi currency serves not only as a means of economic exchange but also as a powerful visual medium through which competing visions of Iraqi identity have been communicated. It contributes to the broader understanding of how everyday objects are used in nationalist projects.