This chapter explores the July Revolution in Iraq, focusing on the collaboration between civilians, Baathists, and communists that led to the formation of the Front of National Union. It analyzes the free officers' movement, the coup against the Hashemite monarchy, and the significance of individuals like Abdul Karim Qasim and Abdul Salamarif in the events. The chapter also discusses the consequences of the July revolutions in Hashemite Iraq for the regional balance of power and the impact on Western imperialist interests.
Featuring Abdel Razzaq Takriti, this is the TENTH episode of Thawra (Revolution), our rolling mini-series on Arab radicalism in the 20th century. Today’s installment tells the story of Iraq’s 1958 July Revolution: a Free Officers’ coup overthrew the imperialist-aligned Hashemite monarchy and brought nationalist Abdul-Karim Qasim to power alongside a surging Communist Party. Revolutionary currents soon turned against one another, however, as did Qasim and Nasser. Conflict stemmed from serious political and strategic differences, but also petty rivalries and bitter feuds. And in Iraq, class conflict often appeared dressed up in the sectarian and ethnic modalities through which class was lived.
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