American Prestige
Bonus - 20th Century Iraq and the Rise of Ba'athism, Ep. 4 w/ Brandon Wolf-Hunnicutt (Preview)
Jan 12, 2025
Brandon Wolf-Hunnicutt, an associate professor of history at California State University, Stanislaus, digs into the aftermath of Iraq's 1963 coups. He discusses the Ba'ath party's rise to power, influenced by American and Western European dynamics. Key topics include the founding of the Iraq National Oil Company and its impact on U.S.-Iraq relations during the 1970s. The conversation also highlights the interplay of oil interests and shifting geopolitical strategies after major conflicts. A thought-provoking exploration of history's complexities!
08:08
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Quick takeaways
- The U.S. viewed the Ba'ath Party as an alternative to Qassim's regime during the 1963 coup, influenced by modernization goals rather than just oil interests.
- In the 1960s, European nations like France and Germany began seeking more autonomy from U.S. dominance, redefining their relationships with Arab nationalism and oil imports.
Deep dives
The Role of the Kennedy Administration in the 1963 Coup
The 1963 coup in Iraq was significantly influenced by the Kennedy administration's aspirations for modernization rather than solely by oil companies. While many assumed that the U.S. aimed to maintain its interests primarily through oil firms, the administration viewed the Ba'ath Party as a plausible alternative to Qassim's regime, aligning with its goal of promoting neutralism without Soviet ties. The U.S. attempted to mobilize oil company support for the coup, pushing them to help stabilize the new Ba'athist government through the re-negotiation of oil prices and taxation. This dependency on U.S. backing contributed to the internal instability of the Ba'ath regime, resulting in its overthrow by a Nasserist faction mere months later.
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