Iraq’s modern history is often told through war and geopolitics, but far less often through memory, trauma, and survival. In this lecture, Dr. Roy explores Iraq through the intertwined lenses of genocide, imperial ambition, and the fragile dreams that persist in the aftermath of destruction. Dr. Roy traces how repeated foreign interventions, authoritarian rule, and ethnic targeting reshaped Iraqi society, leaving deep scars that continue to shape the region today.

Takeaways:

• Iraq’s borders and political systems were imposed through imperial decisions rather than organic state formation.
• The Kurdish people experienced systematic genocide under the Ba’athist regime, including the Anfal campaign.
• Chemical weapons were used against civilian populations, most notably at Halabja, with long-term generational consequences.
• Dreams, art, and memory often become forms of resistance when political expression is suppressed.
• Authoritarian regimes rely on fear, fragmentation, and silence to maintain control.
• Foreign powers repeatedly prioritized strategic interests over human life and stability.
• Trauma does not end with violence and continues to shape identity, trust, and governance.
• Post-invasion Iraq struggled to reconcile justice, memory, and reconstruction.
• Genocide leaves cultural and psychological wounds that persist long after regimes fall.
• Understanding Iraq requires listening to voices beyond headlines and military timelines.

Resources & References:

• The Anfal Campaign
• The Halabja Chemical Attack (and its long-term effects)
• Ba’athist Iraq and Saddam Hussein
• The Iran-Iraq War
• The Gulf War
• The 2003 Invasion of Iraq
• Kurdish History in Iraq
• Genocide Convention of 1948
• Postwar Trauma and Memory Studies

Beyond the podcast:

• Want to watch this lecture? Check out the full video.
• Want to support the show? Buy Roy a coffee!

Activism has shaped the United States at every stage of its history, but not always in the ways we remember. In this lecture, Dr. Roy traces the evolution of American activism from labor movements and civil rights struggles to modern protest culture, examining how power actually responds to pressure. Dr. Roy explores when activism succeeds, when it fails, and why moral clarity alone has never been enough to force systemic change.

Takeaways:

• Activism in the United States has historically emerged during moments of economic stress, war, and political exclusion.
• Early American activism focused less on ideology and more on material conditions like wages, land, and survival.
• Labor movements were among the most effective activist forces because they disrupted economic systems rather than symbols.
• The Civil Rights Movement succeeded when moral pressure aligned with economic and geopolitical incentives.
• Protest without leverage often results in suppression, co-optation, or symbolic concessions rather than real change.
• Power rarely yields out of empathy alone and almost always responds to sustained disruption.
• Media attention can amplify activism but can also dilute or redirect its goals.
• Modern activism often prioritizes visibility over organization, reducing long-term effectiveness.
• Institutions adapt by absorbing activist language while preserving underlying power structures.
• Meaningful change requires strategy, coalition-building, and a clear understanding of how systems function.

Resources & References:

• The American Labor Movement
• The Pullman Strike
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
• The New Deal Labor Reforms
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965
• COINTELPRO Documents
• The Antiwar Movement During Vietnam
• Occupy Wall Street
• The Black Lives Matter Movement

Beyond the podcast:

• Want to watch this lecture? Check out the full video.
• Want to support the show? Buy Dr. Roy a coffee!

Cyrus the Great ruled at a rare moment when empires could have chosen domination or cooperation. In this lecture, Dr. Roy traces the rise of the Persian Empire under Cyrus, exploring how conquest, restraint, and an unprecedented vision of tolerance reshaped the ancient world. Dr. Roy examines how Cyrus combined military brilliance with ethical governance, creating the first known model of an empire built on pluralism, legal limits, and respect for human dignity.


Takeaways

• Cyrus emerged from the convergence of Iranian, Median, and Persian cultures during the collapse of older Near Eastern empires.
• Horse warfare, mobility, and strategic restraint allowed Persian forces to defeat much larger armies.
• Cyrus repeatedly chose incorporation over annihilation, turning conquered peoples into partners rather than subjects.
• The defeat of Lydia demonstrated how innovation in currency, logistics, and battlefield tactics could overturn numerical advantage.
• Babylon fell without a battle due to engineering ingenuity and restraint rather than mass violence.
• The Cyrus Cylinder represents the first known declaration limiting state power over individuals.
• Religious freedom under Cyrus went beyond tolerance to active protection and restoration of temples.
• Slavery and human sacrifice were curtailed, redefining the moral boundaries of imperial authority.
• The return of displaced peoples, including Jewish communities, marked a radical break from earlier imperial practices.
• Cyrus’s empire functioned as a federation of cultures rather than a single imposed identity.
• His death on campaign underscored the limits of even the most visionary leadership.
• The Persian model influenced later ideas of rights, governance, and multicultural states.

Resources & References:

• The Cyrus Cylinder
• The History of Media
• The Battle of Pteria
• The Neo-Babylonian Empire
• The Battle of Opis
• The Persian Satrapy System

Beyond the podcast:

• Want to watch this lecture? Check out the full video.
• Want to support the show? Buy Dr. Roy a coffee!

This lecture was originally recorded at the Museum of the Future for the series Lessons from the Past (2025).