This study seeks to investigate Sinan Antoon’s I’jaam (2004) through applying different theoretical frameworks including those of Althusser (1971) and Foucault (1978). Antoon, considered as one of the most internationally recognized Iraqi writers, wrote this dystopian, war novel in Arabic and translated it to English. Antoon’s emphasis placed on literature acting as an oppositional political voice has, in turn, created its own form of censorship inside the fictional world and outside the actual state censorship during Saadm Hossein reign. Thus, particular political messages within literary texts, like I’jaam, have been received with critical attention. The writing culture in Iraq has established an atmosphere in which literary critics and authors have valued specific types of texts that deal with social and political themes. I’jaam’s background reveals how in the twentieth century, the world has become an ever more violent place; the growth of ethnic and sectarian conflicts, the rise of extremist movements and censorship have increasingly trapped people in an unending chaos and violence. For numerous generations, Iraq has been suffering from a long history of war and violence. Accordingly, this paper aims to establish a bond between Althusserian and Foucauldian frameworks in order to analyze war and peace dichotomy and to reflect on such themes that shape the backbone of I’jaam. It is concluded that fulfilling basic human needs such as the sense of justice, freedom of speech and physical and financial security will serve to mitigate desires for revenge among victims and will help to diffuse inter-community tensions.

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