Iraqi Republic (1958–1968)
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| Iraqi Republic (1958–1968) | |
|---|---|
.png) Orzetto~commonswiki (first-uploaded file version), AnonMoos, etc. · Public domain · source | |
| Conventional long name | Iraqi Republic |
| Common name | Iraq |
| Government type | Revolutionary republic |
| Era | Cold War |
| Event start | 14 July Revolution |
| Year start | 1958 |
| Date start | 14 July |
| Event end | 17 July Revolution |
| Year end | 1968 |
| Date end | 17 July |
| Capital | Baghdad |
| Largest city | Baghdad |
| Official languages | Arabic |
| Currency | Iraqi dinar |
| Leader1 | Abd al-Karim Qasim |
| Year leader1 | 1958–1963 |
| Leader2 | Abdul Salam Arif |
| Year leader2 | 1963–1966 |
| Leader3 | Abdul Rahman Arif |
| Year leader3 | 1966–1968 |
Iraqi Republic (1958–1968) The Iraqi Republic (1958–1968) was the state formed after the 14 July Revolution that overthrew the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq and ended the rule of King Faisal II of Iraq. The period encompassed competing factions of the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Communist Party, Ba'ath Party, pan-Arab nationalists, and regional actors including United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, Egypt, and Jordan. Major events included the leadership of Abd al-Karim Qasim, the 1963 Ramadan Revolution, and the 1968 17 July Revolution.
Background and 1958 Revolution
The overthrow of the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq on 14 July 1958 was led by officers of the Iraqi Army associated with the Free Officers Movement and inspired by the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and the policies of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The coup dissolved the Iraq–Jordan–Egypt union ambitions tied to the Hashemite dynasty, ended the reign of King Faisal II of Iraq, and executed members of the Iraqi royal family including Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah. The upheaval altered Iraq’s relationship with United Kingdom, reshaped ties to the Soviet Union, and intensified rivalry among Arab nationalism, communism, and Ba'athism within Iraqi politics.
Government and Political Structure
Following the revolution, authority passed to the Revolutionary Council and the Iraqi Cabinet, reorganizing institutions previously dominated by the Monarchy of Iraq. The new state abolished the Iraq Constitution of 1925 and attempted to create a republican legal framework while engaging with the United Nations and regional bodies such as the Arab League. Power struggles involved the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Intelligence Service, the Iraqi Communist Party, and emerging Ba'ath Party (Iraq) cells, with provincial administration affected in regions like Kirkuk, Mosul, and Basra. The judiciary and civil service were reconstituted amidst tensions with tribal authorities including leaders in Anbar and political figures like Nuri al-Said’s former allies.
Leadership: Abd al-Karim Qasim and the Revolutionary Council
Abd al-Karim Qasim seized prominence as Prime Minister and dominated the Revolutionary Council while navigating alliances with figures such as Colonel Abdul Salam Arif and parties like the Iraqi Communist Party. Qasim clashed with Gamal Abdel Nasser over proposals for Iraqi-Egyptian union and managed crises involving Kurdish rebels led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani and negotiations over autonomy. Qasim’s rule provoked opposition from Ba'athists including Saddam Hussein and military officers who later participated in the 1963 coup. Internationally, Qasim balanced overtures to the Soviet Union with contacts to the United States, creating diplomatic friction with United Kingdom and regional monarchies like Saudi Arabia.
Domestic Policies and Social Changes
The republic pursued land reform measures affecting agricultural elites in Maysan and Diyala, nationalizations that impacted foreign concessions of companies like Iraq Petroleum Company, and reform of public institutions in Baghdad universities influenced by intellectuals tied to Pan-Arabism and Marxism. Education expansion involved institutions such as the University of Baghdad while healthcare initiatives targeted urban populations in Basra and rural communities in Kurdistan Region. Social policies affected minority communities including Assyrians, Kurds, Shi'a clerics centered in Najaf and Karbala, and religious leaders like Muhammad Baqr al-Sadr who later rose to prominence. Repression and purges targeted opponents from the Ba'ath Party and segments of the Iraqi Communist Party, prompting exile, imprisonment, and clashes in districts like Shorja.
Foreign Relations and Regional Diplomacy
Iraq’s foreign relations during this era involved shifting alignments with Soviet Union arms agreements, diplomatic contact with United States envoys, and strained relations with United Kingdom over basing and oil. The republic engaged in Arab diplomatic contests with Egypt and Syria over leadership of Arab nationalism, contested borders with Turkey regarding Kurdish refugees and the Mosul Question, and navigated interactions with Iran under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Iraq joined regional conversations at the Arab League and experienced pressure from Cold War dynamics involving the Central Intelligence Agency and the KGB as well as connection to oil politics mediated by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Economy and Infrastructure Development
Economic policies included renegotiation of oil concessions linked to the Iraq Petroleum Company, attempts at resource nationalization, and state-led infrastructure projects in Baghdad and Basra. Development efforts focused on road and port upgrades, expansion of the Basra Oil Terminal, and modernization of utilities supporting industry in regions like Kirkuk. Fiscal measures interacted with international finance from institutions such as the World Bank and bilateral credits from Soviet Union and France, while agricultural reforms altered land tenure in Nineveh and Dhi Qar. Economic strains were exacerbated by military expenditures, political instability, and disruption of foreign investment.
1963 and 1968 Coups and the Fall of the Republic
The 1963 Ramadan Revolution led by Ba'ath Party (Iraq) officers overthrew Abd al-Karim Qasim, installing figures such as Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and elevating Saddam Hussein within party security networks, provoking violent suppressions of the Iraqi Communist Party. Subsequent rivalries brought Abdul Salam Arif to power after the Ba'athist brief rule, followed by Abdul Rahman Arif, until the 17 July 1968 coup orchestrated by Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein restored Ba'athist dominance. The 1968 coup inaugurated policies that dismantled institutions of the 1958–1968 republic and set the stage for the later Republic of Iraq (post-1968) leadership under the Ba'ath Party (Iraq).