Culture and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Iraq and beyond

March 11, 2025 | 2 pm Brussels & 4 pm Baghdad | 90 minutes

On March 11, 2025, the EWANA Center for Cultural Understanding hosted the sixth MAQHA Conversation, a virtual gathering that brought together 23 participants from the EWANA network for a 90-minute in-depth discussion on the intersection of culture and peacebuilding. Titled Culture and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Iraq and Beyond, the session aimed to explore how cultural diversity, memory, and historical narratives influence reconciliation processes in post-conflict societies, particularly in Iraq, with insights extending to Syria and other regional contexts.

Participants at the MAQHA Café were invited to explore how cultural diversity can both challenge and facilitate reconciliation processes. The session was moderated by Desirée Custers and featured speakers Julia Pickhardt, Shivan Fazil, and Ali Bakht Al-Tamimi, each bringing valuable perspectives from the fields of peace mediation, transitional justice, and Middle Eastern governance.

Cultural dynamics and peacebuilding

The conversation opened with a recognition that culture plays a dual role in post-conflict environments: it can act as a divisive force but also as a vehicle for healing and social cohesion. Iraq’s cultural landscape, shaped by centuries of diversity, has been severely disrupted by violent conflict, especially under the rule of ISIS. Shivan Fazil emphasized the destruction inflicted by ISIS, noting that not only were cultural artifacts lost, but entire communities—such as Yazidis—have remained marginalized both politically and socially. These groups face systemic stigma and lack real opportunities for social mobility, justice, or political representation. Despite some progress in rebuilding intergroup relations, Shivan stressed that accountability mechanisms remain out of reach for many victims and that political will—particularly from the Federal Government of Iraq—is insufficient to address transitional justice and compensation.

One significant point raised during the session was the premature closure of the UN mission investigating ISIS crimes (UNITAD), despite the fact that many mass graves remain unexhumed and survivors of captivity, particularly women and girls, are still waiting for recognition and justice. According to Shivan, although Iraq is currently experiencing one of its most stable periods in recent history, many unresolved issues threaten long-term peace. This stability must be leveraged to resolve outstanding matters such as displacement, administration of the disputed territories, and restoration of rights—but this requires meaningful governmental engagement.

Ali Bakht Al-Tamimi offered a more critical view of what has been termed “peace” in Iraq, describing it instead as a fragile balance sustained by elite power interests rather than genuine reconciliation. He argued that diversity has not been embraced as a political strength but instead sidelined. Reconciliation processes, he noted, have often occurred between groups with limited social interaction, like Sunni and Shia political elites, without engaging victims and affected communities. As a result, minority communities have often had to form their own armed groups in response to institutional collapse, creating a fragmented and militarized landscape.

The role of international actors

The involvement of international actors, particularly European organizations, was critically assessed. While their support for peace and reconciliation has been instrumental, concerns were raised about the imposition of postcolonial narratives and the undermining of local agency.

Julia Pickhardt contributed insights from her work with international actors involved in peacebuilding efforts, stressing that international involvement in peacebuilding at times falters due to flawed assumptions and poor implementation. She identified three key issues: first, the imposition of a postcolonial narrative, where Western actors view host countries as inherently unstable and in need of Western models of democracy; second, the lack of relevant competence and continuity, as international staff rotate and fall short on building sustainable relationships; and third, the weakening of national agency, as local actors become dependent on foreign funding and are pressured to implement external agendas.

Julia advocated for a different approach, one that begins with humility and listens to local needs. Successful international peacebuilding efforts, she said, must prioritize strengthening local capacities and supporting national ownership. European organizations, for instance, can play a constructive role by offering training on securing funding, facilitating knowledge exchange, and bolstering local NGOs’ influence.

Legal and institutional reform

The discussion underscored the necessity of legal reforms to support cultural diversity and ensure long-term peace. Participants called for the Iraqi government to fulfill its duty in providing basic services, transitional justice, and reconciliation.

Ali Bakht warned against compressing subcultural identities into single political expressions. Iraq’s diverse cultural fabric cannot be represented through homogenized political structures. Instead, he called for institutional reforms that recognize and reflect this diversity. Laws should be developed that build on cultural multiplicity rather than suppress it, and civil society must be empowered to shape the tone and character of the state. He noted that most peacebuilding programs implemented by international organizations look good on paper but lack real impact on the ground, largely because they fail to reflect the cultural context or engage communities meaningfully.

The conversation also explored the role of NGOs and the unintended consequences of state retreat from public services. Several participants pointed out that in contexts like Iraq, NGOs have often stepped in to provide essential services in the absence of government action. While this has filled critical gaps, it may also reduce the pressure on governments to resume their responsibilities, creating what some called a “dependency syndrome.” In this light, stepping up for the Iraqi government means reclaiming its obligation to deliver basic services and to enact and enforce laws that uphold justice, compensate victims, and protect cultural rights.

A holistic peacebuilding approach must be both political and cultural — a “political quest with cultural reflections,” as Ali Bakht aptly described.

Reflecting on Peacebuilding after the Revolution in Syria

A comparative lens was introduced through the inclusion of lessons for reconciliation and reconstruction in Syria. While both Iraq and Syria have suffered from extreme violence and displacement, participants highlighted key differences between the neighbouring countries. Iraq, having gone through the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and a constitutional drafting process in 2005, developed frameworks that—while flawed—offered some legal recognition of diversity. However, mistakes such as the abrupt de-Baathification, which dismantled entire institutions overnight, created lasting organizational and security vacuums.

Syria, on the other hand, was described as having a more robust civil society, even under authoritarian rule. The existence of reconciliation committees and peacebuilding initiatives focused on memory and coexistence were noted as potential sources of resilience. However, the ideological dominance of the regime and theocratic monopolies present deep challenges for inclusive peacebuilding.

In both cases, participants agreed that a rethinking of the social contract is needed. The conceptualization of the state should not be based solely on a dominant culture or class but must reflect the rich cultural mosaic of its people. Efforts must also shift from top-down impositions to grassroots-led processes, ensuring genuine ownership by the communities most affected by conflict.

Conclusion

The conversation concluded with a reflection on what peacebuilding actors—both local and international—should do differently. Among the “Do’s” from Iraq, participants praised the speed and inclusivity of the early constitutional process. Among the “Don’ts”, they warned against the dangers of erasing institutional memory and attempting to rebuild security through fragmented armed groups. Finally, the group emphasized the importance of moving beyond what divides communities to rediscover what unites them. Dialogue must be broadened, digital peacebuilding tools expanded, and narratives made more inclusive to ensure sustainable peace rooted in justice, recognition, and cultural respect.

Key recommendations:

  • Embracing cultural diversity: Recognizing and protecting cultural identities as integral to national cohesion and peace.
  • Strengthening local ownership: Supporting local initiatives and ensuring that peacebuilding efforts are driven by the communities they aim to serve.
  • Promoting legal reforms: Advocating for laws that enshrine the rights of minorities and support cultural diversity.
  • Enhancing international collaboration: Encouraging international actors to adopt a humble and open-minded approach, respecting local contexts and priorities.

Speakers

Julia Pickhardt 

Julia is an experienced project manager with a strong focus on peacebuilding and mediation, currently serving as Project Manager for Yemen at the CMI- Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation. Previously, Julia held positions at forumZFD as Project Manager/Peace Consultant, where her responsibilities included managing peacebuilding projects in Iraq, and at CARPO, where Julia conceptualized the Iran-Saudi Dialogue Initiative. Julia’s early career included roles at swisspeace, Geneva Call and different academic institutions, conducting research and facilitating training on conflict resolution and civil society engagement in the MENA region. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic/Islamic Science and Politics from the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and a Master degree in Conflict and Developments studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute. 

Shivan Fazil 

Shivan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at Boston University, specializing in comparative politics and international relations with a focus on the Middle East. His work centers on governance, state-society relations, and peace and conflict dynamics. Over the past decade, He has collaborated with various esteemed institutions including, the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani’s Institute of Regional and International Studies (2024), the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2020–2024), the United States Institute of Peace (2019–2020), among others. He has conducted surveys and fieldwork across Iraq, examining the perceptions of diverse demographics—including religious minorities, internally displaced persons, and young people—on governance, post-conflict reconciliation, and reconstruction. More information: https://shivanfazil.com. 

Ali Bakht Al-Tamimi

Ali works in the field of transitional justice, institutional and legislative reform, and institution building. He also specializes in the field of cultural anthropology, in which he holds a PhD degree with his thesis titled: “Memory and Cultural Rights.” Ali participated in many events and activities, and has authored a number of books as well as programs on development and training. He has contributed to strategies, policies and advocacy campaigns aimed at amending legislation in Iraq to agree with human rights standards. He is a board member of the EWANA Center and Chair of the Ufuq Organisation for Human Development.

Host

Desiree Custers, EWANA Center for Cultural Understanding