Reconstruction, Repair, and Rehabilitation: A View from Mosul

Abstract: Following the devastation of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul by the Islamic State, numerous international agencies have launched preservation programs to reconstruct monuments and sites within the city. In this short article we present some findings from the first survey of 1,600 residents of Mosul revealing local attitudes toward that reconstruction. Those results have implications for current and future projects in Iraq. Although Iraqi people support heritage initiatives, we demonstrate that their priorities are for broader rehabilitation efforts that foreground security, humanitarian aid, and peace building. Additionally, rather than archaeological sites and museums, they prefer that local religious sites be restored, because they hold everyday meanings and are used in the community. And while they acknowledge the contributions made by foreign agencies, the residents of Mosul seek greater agency in the future of their own heritage. Taken together, these findings lead us to reflect on the broader themes of repair and rehabilitation and the role material heritage might hopefully play in the aftermath of conflict and trauma.