Dominique Bashir Misconi: The Intellectual Formation of a Catholic Orientalist in Iraq (1892-1933)

Misconi, Anne-Marie

Abstract

In this thesis I research the impact of academic Orientalism on newly independent Iraq. Debates on Orientalism rarely acknowledge the early 20th century collaborative efforts of ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ Orientalist scholars in the production, transmission and exchange of knowledge. Equally lacking in the Western historical tradition is the acknowledgment of vital intellectual contributions by non-Europeans during this period. Using previously unseen archive material from Iraq, I have researched how the Mosul-born Syriac Catholic, Dominique Bashir Misconi (1892 - 1961), studied, trained and worked with preeminent Arabists and Assyriologists in Budapest, Paris and Berlin to progress the discipline of Orientalism. With analysis of international scholarly networks at the forefront of the work, I explore the immediate consequences of Misconi’s efforts in international law and archaeology, which came to life in 1929 when he joined Iraq’s College of Law in Baghdad. In this thesis, I show how Misconi was able to mobilise twenty years of Orientalist training in Europe to contribute to law-making that led to Iraq’s independence in 1932, and the greater protection of its antiques and ancient material heritage. Furthermore, I reveal how he utilized his Orientalist network to secure educational opportunities for young Iraqi scholars. Amid all of this, he produced a raft of important translation works and his life sheds light on the ways in which a manuscript tradition – reminiscent of the Islamic ‘Golden Age’ – thrived during this time. This is a decolonising archival project through which I employ textual translation and analysis, as well as cross-referencing techniques to quantify the extent of an Ottoman Catholic intellectual’s imprint on Western Orientalist scholarship. Conversely, I look at ways in which European Orientalist scholarship shaped ideas in the early State formation of Iraq – the country to which Misconi eventually returned. Further research into the lives of Iraq’s 20th century scholars will help to redraw a picture erased by decades of political oppression and international hostilities.

Citation

Misconi, A.-M. Dominique Bashir Misconi: The Intellectual Formation of a Catholic Orientalist in Iraq (1892-1933). (Thesis). SOAS University of London

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00506995
• Additional Information: 307 pages
• Award Date: 2025