The Iraq War at 20: Anniversary Journalism, British Cultural Memory, and the Politics of Closure

War anniversaries are important milestones that enable certain understandings of the violent past to be naturalized in the present. This article is the first qualitative analysis of British press coverage at the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War.

By examining broadsheets,tabloids, and mainstream broadcast media channels between 15 February and 1 May 2023, it identifies that much of the coverage of this anniversary within the British press clustered into five main themes: ‘Dissent’, ‘Controversy’, ‘Uncertainty/Certainty’, ‘Rehabilitation’, and ‘Victims’. Emphasis was placed on what the war now means for Britain’s place in the world, whilst also showcasing more of the Iraqi experience than in 2003.

It argues that the British media engaged in an act of cathartic conscience cleansing that simultaneously ‘overs’ any criticism and recognition of injustice. The media that supported the war in 2003 were, 20 years later, able to declare it a controversial mistake without bearing any culpability for their role in backing it.

Authors: Catriona Pennell, Chris Kempshall,. Gabriel Kupper