Occupation and reconstruction: a historical perspective

摘要

Conquest is generally traumatic for many of those conquered, but the processes of defeat and occupation do not exhaust the transforming change that stems from conquest. Whether the occupation it leads to is designed to be short or long term, occupation frequently comes with a determination to transform. Sometimes this determination is limited to destruction, notably of military assets, but often the transformation intended has been far more insistent. This transformation is especially the case with civil wars, because they lead to an attempt at reconstruction designed to ensure that rebellion will not recur. It is particularly valuable to look at the example of the USA, both because it is the great power of the moment and there is an important parallel between the ultimately unsuccessful reconstruction in the American South during the 19th century and the failure of the occupation of Iraq from 2003 to fulfil American objectives.