Survival Politics: Baghdad’s Citizens from Saddam Hussein to the 2025 Elections
A Crown Seminar with Alissa Walter
November 12, 2025
11 AM–12:15 PM
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What can Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections tell us about the deeper struggles over power, governance, and survival in Baghdad's recent past? Drawing on her new book, Contested City: Citizen Advocacy and Survival in Modern Baghdad, Dr. Alissa Walter's research explores how ordinary Iraqis have historically negotiated with state officials, militias, and political parties to survive and assert their rights. The upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections in November 2025 tell a deeper story of how Iraqi citizens have historically navigated power, survival, and participation in political life from the era of Saddam Hussein to the present. This talk examines how everyday politics in Baghdad sheds light on Iraq’s current challenges—and the enduring resilience of its citizens.
Alissa Walter is an associate professor of history at Seattle Pacific University.