Independent Iraq : British Influence from 1941-1958 (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

Rating:
Summary: The political development of early modern Iraq
Review: This book provides a thoroughly detailed analysis of the accomplishments and failures of Iraqi government from the British occupation during WWII until the fall of the monarchy. The author makes a compelling argument that the British foreign office heavily influenced the Iraqi monarchy during this period. This control enabled the British to exercise a considerable measure of control over the politics and policies of Iraqi government, perhaps to a greater extent even than during the earlier British Mandate. However, the Iraqi monarch was not a puppet, and frequently disregarded the advice of the British and prominent Iraqi politicians, sometimes at his own peril. The author also sheds some light on the causes of the military coup that brought down the monarchy, although a detailed analysis of the present authoritarian regime is beyond the scope of the work. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in recent Middle Eastern history and the origins of many current political issues.

Rating:
Summary: The political development of early modern Iraq
Review: This book provides a thoroughly detailed analysis of the accomplishments and failures of Iraqi government from the British occupation during WWII until the fall of the monarchy. The author makes a compelling argument that the British foreign office heavily influenced the Iraqi monarchy during this period. This control enabled the British to exercise a considerable measure of control over the politics and policies of Iraqi government, perhaps to a greater extent even than during the earlier British Mandate. However, the Iraqi monarch was not a puppet, and frequently disregarded the advice of the British and prominent Iraqi politicians, sometimes at his own peril. The author also sheds some light on the causes of the military coup that brought down the monarchy, although a detailed analysis of the present authoritarian regime is beyond the scope of the work. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in recent Middle Eastern history and the origins of many current political issues.