Structural Barriers to Rights-Based Quality-of-Life: The Unresolved Challenges of Mesopotamian’s Nation-Building

The dissolution of the Mesopotamian despotic empires at the turn of the 20th century, while leading to the formation of several aberrant states in the region, brought minimal improvement to the quality of life for their citizens, largely due to the persistence of injustice and human rights violations. At the dawn of newly established hegemonic powers, any advancements in living conditions were closely tied to political and cultural assimilation. Militarism redirected resources away from economic development and social services, exacerbating the marginalization of sub-national groups in Mesopotamia—a legacy that continues to this day.

In regions such as Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran, areas predominantly inhabited by Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans have historically seen less investment, leading to underdeveloped infrastructure, limited opportunities, and severe discrimination, followed by assimilation and displacement. Sub-national groups in these regions frequently experience systemic discrimination in accessing education, healthcare, and employment, exacerbated by policies that reinforce social hierarchies favoring dominant ethnic or religious groups. Their political representation is often significantly restricted, as central governments employ militarized strategies to suppress calls for autonomy or independence, thereby infringing upon their political rights. In Mesopotamia, securitization and military-dominated political control have led to widespread human rights violations, including forced displacement, extrajudicial killings, and cultural repression, disproportionately affecting sub-national communities.

This paper aims to provide a deeper examination of past violations and the enduring wounds they have left, while also addressing the systemic issues within the international system that remain unresolved. Ethnographic and historical-documentary analysis are used to explore the long-standing, systemic, and structural human rights violations and injustices faced by diverse ethnic minorities, such as the Kurds in Mesopotamia. These violations have had profound and lasting impacts, contributing to a significant decline in the quality of life for these communities.