Iraq from the 1920s to the 1960s

Sources of conflicts in modern societies

Conflicts and competition are based on social divisions;

If a social division is significant from a political point of view, if it is salient then we talk about a cleavage.

Cleavages are the product

of history; other significant changes in the nature of a society (a

religious schism, the emergence of a new economic system, the impact of technology, etc.)

or wars, conquests, or political union that have put together different

peoples into one society.

Common cleavages in modern societies

Religious; Etnhno-lingusitic (racial, ethnic, cultural); Center-periphery; Urban-rural; Class.

Two types of cleavages

Reinforcing; Cross-cutting.

Colonial (British) Administration:

The Treaty of Sèvres established Iraq as a mandate of the League of Nations under British administration.

Territory of the new Iraqi State: incorporation of Mosul.

Privileges of Sunni Arabs over other groups;

In addition…

imposition of constitutional order, political institutions, monarch, bureaucracy, and the army.

The 1924 Treaty:

the maintenance of British military bases; a British right of veto over legislation.

The 1930 Treaty: provided for a 25-year alliance with Britain. Iraq had to consult Britain on security issues and allow it the

use of Iraqi airports, ports, railways and rivers; Two major military bases were leased to the British. The British were also allowed to station their forces

throughout Iraq. British personnel were granted immunity from local

prosecution.

Legacies of the early history

a) Tribalism; b) Institutionalization of violence; c) Pan-Arabism rather than nationalism;d) Dysfunctional monarchy; e) Growing influence of the military.

The Republic

1958: a coup d'etat by the Iraqi army brought Brigadier General Abdul Karim Qassim's government to power;

1963 Qassim overthrown by Colonel Abdul Salam Arif; 1966: Salam Arif died and his brother, Abdul Rahman Arif,

assumed the presidency; 1968, Rahman Arif was overthrown by the Arab Socialist

Ba'ath Party (Ahmad Hassan Al-Bakr assumed the premiership in addition to the presidency).