On 19-20 November 2024, Dr. Choman Hardi, co-director of CGDS, was a panellist at the Iraq Initiative Conference held at Chatham House. During the research roundtable titled Creative Mediums as Political Expression Tools, Dr. Hardi joined fellow panellists Tamara Al-Attiya, Sherko Abbas, Tamara Chalabi, and Henaa Malallah to discuss the role of the arts in political expression.
Dr. Hardi explored how artists have long used creative forms—such as humour, metaphor, symbolism, and magical realism—as powerful tools for addressing political justice, even under oppressive regimes. These artistic methods, she argued, serve as vehicles for subversive political expression, allowing individuals to challenge authority and convey critical messages, particularly in the face of authoritarian and violent governments.
Drawing from her experience in Iraq and Kurdistan, Dr. Hardi examined the stifling effects of political suppression, regional instability, and the pervasive influence of negative social media on citizens’ sense of agency. These factors, she argued, often leave individuals feeling powerless, with limited recourse to either vocal opposition or voting—leaving the political process feeling inadequate and disconnected from people’s real struggles. Moreover, Dr. Hardi pointed out how the political discourse tends to focus narrowly on elections, governance, and corruption, overshadowing more systemic issues such as gender inequality, ableism, ethno-religious oppression, and class disparities.
In this context, Dr. Hardi emphasized the crucial role of the arts in challenging and expanding the political dialogue. She argued that artistic expression can bring marginalized issues to the forefront, offering new perspectives on complex subjects and fostering reflection. The arts provide a space where difficult and often contentious ideas can be explored in ways that are accessible and less likely to face direct resistance. Through poetry, visual art, or storytelling, these forms allow for the expression of sensitive issues—such as human rights, social justice, and historical trauma—without provoking the same level of defensiveness or censorship that might arise in political, academic, or journalistic spaces.
Particularly in conflict-affected regions like Iraq, Dr. Hardi noted that the arts can help bridge divides between victimized groups, facilitating empathy and mutual understanding. In environments where various groups—each with their own histories of suffering—compete for recognition and reparations, the arts provide an essential space for shared dialogue and collective healing. Through these creative mediums, individuals can begin to see beyond their own experiences of pain, fostering solidarity and reducing societal fragmentation.
Dr. Hardi concluded that in societies grappling with political and social crises, the arts are not merely a form of personal expression but a powerful tool for collective reflection, social change, and healing. By providing new ways of engaging with complex issues, the arts challenge accepted norms, provoke important conversations, and offer pathways to a more inclusive and empathetic political landscape.