02 April، 2026
Continuing its commitment to opening new intellectual horizons and stimulating the circulation of knowledge, the Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD) is launching a new series of scholarly publications. Among these is the forthcoming book, Patriotic Ayatollahs: Nationalism in post-Saddam Iraq , authored by Caroleen Marji Sayigh, a professor specializing in International Relations and Government at the University of Connecticut in the United States.

The book examines the political role of the religious authorities, particularly Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in Iraq after 2003. Comprising six chapters, the work is distinguished by the author's analytical study of the positions taken by Shi'a religious leaders, especially during the critical junctures that marked the political process of establishing the new Iraqi state. The work, initially published by Cornell University Press in the United States, has been translated into Arabic by Dr. Nasr Mohammed Ali and reviewed by Dr. Hasan Nadhem.

The Research and Development Department, a division of Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (RCD), is diligently working to complete the remainder of this publication series. It is anticipated that the printing and distribution will be concluded within a few weeks. This endeavor is a key component of RCD's strategic plan to support intellectual and cultural dynamism in Iraq and the broader Arab world, and to enrich libraries and academic communities with specialized, scholarly resources across all fields of study.

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