The chapter explores the opening for fascism in the Arab Middle East during World War II, particularly focusing on the 1941 coup in Iraq against British colonial rule. It delves into the complex relationships between local movements and European fascism, the struggles for independence in Iraq, the modernization efforts of the Syrian Communist Party, political challenges faced by a communist leader in Syria, and the Jewish role in Communist parties. The chapter also analyzes the deep divisions between the Ba'ath party and the Communists in Syria and Iraq, highlighting missed opportunities for national unity and the differing principles of Arab unity and nationalism.