The plundering of cultural heritage as an extension of Western imperialism from a postcolonial perspective: The U.S. approach to Iraq

The aim of this study is to examine the transformative and destructive effects of Western imperialism on cultural heritage from a postcolonial perspective. Through the approach of the U.S.A. towards Iraq, it is analyzed how imperialist policies destroy tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The study reveals the main motivations underlying the U.S. intervention in Iraq within the framework of postcolonial theory and the changes that this intervention has created in the political, economic and social fabric of Iraq. The theoretical framework of the thesis is built on the postcolonial approach. The phenomenon of cultural heritage has been discussed in the context of international relations, and the importance of historical and cultural heritage in the Middle East and Iraq has been emphasized. In this study, by using qualitative research methods, the U.S. policy on Iraq and the cultural consequences of this policy were examined in the light of historical and current data. The findings of the study reveal that the U.S. military interventions in Iraq and its post-occupation political, economic and social policies have caused irreparable damage to the country's cultural heritage and had profound traumatic effects on the cultural identity of Iraqi society. The U.S. policy in Iraq has been considered as a systematic project of destruction targeting the country's cultural identity and heritage. It was emphasized that the basis of this policy was the geostrategic importance of Iraq and the goal of controlling its natural resources. From the US approach towards Iraq, it is concluded that Western imperialist policies continue in different forms, a new form of hegemony has emerged, especially in the cultural field, and cultural heritage serves imperialist goals as a strategic factor.