Ancient Mesopotamia and Modern Iraq in the British Press, 1980–2003

This paper addresses the relationship between the representation in British newspapers of Iraqs present and that of its ancient past. Using a database of articles drawn from 23 years of coverage, it aims to demonstrate a strong and highly politicized tendency to link the ancient past to the present through metaphor and allegory. This connection is discussed in terms of its implications for the popular representation of ancient Mesopotamia and for coverage of contemporary politics in three contexts: the IranIraq War, the 199091 Gulf War and associated sanctions, and the buildup to war in 20013. The paper examines the roles of heritage in building perceptions of modern Iraq through the media and calls for a broader recognition of the dangers and potentials of heritage as a tool in the representation of international conflict.