Red Star Over Iraq: Iraqi Communism Before Saddam (columbia/hurst)

Recent outbreaks of sectarian and ethnic violence have thrown Iraq's stability into doubt, suggesting the country's politics are a farce and its political parties are nothing more than the protectors of ethnosectarian interests. Because of the artificiality of the Iraqi state and its absence of deep-seated political institutions, skeptics fear the country is destined to revert to primordialism, yet Iraq's present situation is largely the result of Saddam Hussein's infamous rule over the past three decades, exacerbated by the deprivations of international sanctions. Johan Franzén underscores the role of these destabilizing factors, arguing that before Hussein's ascent to power, diverse parties representing a variety of ideological platforms characterized Iraqi government. The largest and most important of these groups was the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP), the only true cross-sectarian party in Iraqi history drawing support from all of Iraq's communities. From its inception in 1934 to its demise at the hands of Hussein in 1979, the ICP continuously resisted various regimes and spread communist ideology throughout Iraq. At times the party achieved considerable success, though it ultimately failed to seize absolute power. __Red Star Over Iraq__ analyzes this rich history to project a different picture of a future Iraq. Recent outbreaks of sectarian and ethnic violence have thrown Iraq's stability into doubt, suggesting the country's politics are a farce and its political parties are nothing more than the protectors of ethnosectarian interests. Because of the artificiality of the Iraqi state and its absence of deep-seated political institutions, skeptics fear the country is destined to revert to primordialism, yet Iraq's present situation is largely the result of Saddam Hussein's infamous rule over the past three decades, exacerbated by the deprivations of international sanctions. Johan Franzen underscores the role of these destabilizing factors, arguing that before Hussein's ascent to power, diverse parties representing a variety of ideological platforms characterized Iraqi government. The largest and most important of these groups was the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP), the only true cross-sectarian party in Iraqi history drawing support from all of Iraq's communities. From its inception in 1934 to its demise at the hands of Hussein in 1979, the ICP continuously resisted various regimes and spread communist ideology throughout Iraq. At times the party achieved considerable success, though it ultimately failed to seize absolute power. Red Star Over Iraq analyzes this rich history to project a different picture of a future Iraq

Recent outbursts of sectarian and ethnic violence have thrown a unified Iraq into doubt. Many skeptics believe Iraqi politics are a farce, and view Iraq's political parties as protectors of ethnosectarian interests that threaten to resurrect prewar suppression and violence.

According to this view, Iraq's colonial past is the cause of the country's current tensions. Yet in the eyes of Johan Franzén, Saddam Hussein's rule was the ultimate destabilizing force. Combined with the deprivations of international sanctions, Hussein's infamous dictatorship was the primary factor shaping Iraq's present realities. Before Hussein's ascent to power, Iraq was filled with diverse political parties supporting a variety of ideological platforms. The largest and arguably most important of these groups was the Iraqi Communist Party. Red Star Over Iraq follows the life of the ICP from its inception to its demise at the hands of Hussein. A critical text for historians and policymakers, this volume utterly recasts the arguments for Iraq's continuing instability.

Contents 7 Glossary 15 Acknowledgements 19 Introduction 21 1. The Making of a Nation 25 2. The Iraqi Communist Party and the Advent of Ideological Politics 53 3. Communists, Kurds, and Arab Nationalists in Revolutionary Iraq, 1958-1963 105 4. 'Non-Capitalist' Development, 'Arab Socialism', and Armed Rebellion during the Reign of the 'Arefs, 1963-1968 147 5. Nationalism, Patriotism and 'Progressiveness' in the era of Ba'athi Consolidation of State Power, 1968-1979 205 Conclusion 265 Bibliography 269 Index 283 The making of a nation The Iraqi Communist Party and the advent of ideological politics Communists, Kurds, and Arab nationalists in revolutionary Iraq, 1958-1963 Non-capitalista development, Arab socialism and armed rebellion during the reign of the Arefs, 1963-1968 Nationalism, patriotism and progressiveness in the era of Bathī consolidation of state power, 1968-1979.