The power struggle in Iraq

the long version

This short book was produced as a popular analysis of the political upheaval in Iraq; it was produced two years after the Hashimite monarchy was destroyed by a revolutionary army group. It deals solely with the causes and development of events from July 14, 1958, to the time of publication. The underlying message is that Western values and standards cannot be applied to Arab states and adequately explain political developments; as such, Shwadran does not regard Iraq as imminently falling to communism or as part of the bipolar Cold War world. Shwadran briefly addresses the major personalities in Iraq, the events, the connection between Qasim (leader of the revolutionary forces) and Egypt's Nasser, al-Mahdawi and his court, economic development, and the Great Power policies in Iraq.