War, Memory, and Narrative: Literary Representations of Geopolitical Trauma in the Age of American Empire

Abstract

This article investigates how contemporary literature engages with geopolitical trauma in a number of key post-Second World War conflicts — namely the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars — while paying particular attention to the rise and imprinting sequence of American imperialism. Focusing on the current devastation in Gaza (2023–present), it also contends with literary responses to the Vietnam War, the Iran–Iraq War, American invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The emphasis on Gaza recognizes the magnitude and ferocity of the violence, given that military and diplomatic support has allowed for an unparalleled level of destruction. Combining trauma theory and memory studies, the paper claims that literary narratives from these sites reveal a persistent pattern: U.S. intervention—whether by invasion, regime change or economic sanctions—produces deep human suffering while remaining unaccountable. From the napalm of Vietnam to drone warfare in Afghanistan and the bombardment of Gaza, literature operates as a counter-archive of empire, collecting what dominant political narratives attempt to expunge.