Reference Reviews

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The War in Iraq, edited by Tom Lansford. 241pp. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. ISBN: 978-0-7377-4162-9. $36.20.

The essays in this volume from Greenhaven’s new Global Viewpoints series drives home the point that both national and international perspectives on the war in Iraq are so diverse that it’s hard to believe the authors are observing the same war. Twenty-one essays in four chapters examine the Iraq War with respect to international relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, international terrorism and democracy. Contributors from Iraq, Israel, Great Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden and Australia offer starkly differing ideas about the effect of the war on international relations. Columnists for the conservative American magazine Weekly Standard insist the American invasion of Iraq was a positive influence on international relations; former chief of UN weapons inspection Hans Blix, on the other hand, contends that the invasion actually undermined international stability and the potential effectiveness of the United Nations. On the Arab-Israeli conflict, contributors argue variously for or against linking peace efforts with Israel to the war in Iraq and in confirmation or denial of the influence Israel had on the United States’ decision to invade. Notably, no contributor contends that the war in Iraq has reduced terrorism; one essayist even argues that other countries have reduced terrorist threats in spite of the Iraq War. On the question of democracy in Iraq, viewpoints range from a contention that democracy is taking hold to the efforts being a complete failure; one writer even says that what Iraq needs right now is not a democracy but an authoritarian regime. Like other volumes in this series, The War in Iraq offers not just pro and con arguments, but perspectives from a range of regions and political viewpoints. A carefully selected bibliography of periodical articles follows each chapter. Social studies teachers can take advantage of questions written for each chapter, which could be used for discussion or further research. Also included are a list of relevant organizations, a bibliography of books and a general index. Highly recommended for high school, community college and public libraries.