The modern nationstate of iraq was created following world war i from the ottoman provinces of baghdad, basra, and mosul. If that s not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. A university press has reprinted a facsimile under the title instructions for american servicemen in iraq during world war ii the cover looks different but it s basically the same book. It s a quick read and very well done for its purpose, which was to give a quick overview of iraq. The first persian gulf war, also known as the gulf war, jan. Infoplease has everything you need to know about iraq. This book is a major contribution by a scholar who has written extensively on arab nationalism and iraq and knows the subject well. Aslams haunting novel takes us deep into pre and post911 pakistan and afghanistan, and offers equally searing. The land now known as iraq has been called the cradle of civilization. This marked the beginning of the country s destabilization, with gdp and employment falling significantly and inflation skyrocketing to 34%. Your first is the occupation of iraq, an insiders account of the iraqi government following the american invasion. Government online bookstore, and govbooktalk government book talk talking about some of the best publications from the federal government, past and present.
The american military adventure in iraq, is by the journalist. The executive office of the president and omb have just released the official budget for fiscal year 2021. The best books on the history of iraq five books expert. Army company commander in iraq from april 2003 to march 2004. Iraq s abundant oil revenues were used to develop the economy. Jun 19, 2014 the disintegration of the iraqi state has its roots in world war i created by european powers, the nation of iraq may be buckling under the pressure of trying to unite three distinct ethnic groups. Persian gulf wars, two conflicts involving iraq and u. Jan 11, 2020 at the end of 2019, more than 5,000 u. I found it an eye opener that combines scholarship with straightforwardness. The president safeguards the commitment to the constitution and the preservation of iraq s independence, sovereignty, unity, and the security of its territories in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. A history by john robertson is an interesting look at the history of the modern nationstate of iraq, and the people that resided and conquered its geographic dimensions throughout history. Like the records of the cuban missile crisis and wikileaks, these volumes will be pored over by graduate students for decades. It is a multiparty system whereby the executive power is exercised by the prime minister of the council of ministers as the head of government, as well as the president of iraq, and legislative power is vested in the council of representatives and the federation council. In 1961, kuwait gained independence from britain and iraq claimed sovereignty over kuwait.
But the only real alternative to saddam hussein was a shia government, which was. These are books on my mind about iraq and the wider middle east. In saddam s history books, iraq won both the iran iraq war, and the 1991 gulf war. From revolution to dictatorship, by marion farouksluglett and peter sluglett. His books include arab nationalism in the twentieth century princeton.
Now the movement is nearly crushed the powerful protests, which led a prime minister to resign, are reeling since influential cleric muqtada al. The updated book includes the recent american invasion, the fall of saddam hussein and the subsequent descent into civil strife. Iraq s interim government tried saddam hussein for the killing of iraqi shiites in 1982 and sentenced him to death. Ali a allawi combines the rigour of an historian with the knowledge of a senior politician in one of the first governments in iraq after the overthrow of saddam. This discussion surveys the history of iraq since the 7th century ad. It is located in the iraqi capital of baghdad and was founded in 1920. Iraq s aim was to gain control of the shatt al arab waterway, and perhaps the iranian oil fields as well.
The sumerians invented writing and started the first recorded history. To understand iraq, charles tripps history is the book to read. Understanding the middle east i finding the truth understanding the middle east ii words about words in a nutshell. In 600 iraq was a province of the persian sasanian empire, to which it had belonged for three centuries. Charles tripp, a british citizen and author of the 2000 book, a history of iraq. When the history books are written about the iraq war, they will. Under a provisional constitution adopted by the party in 1970, iraq was confirmed as a republic, with legislative power theoretically vested in an elected legislature but also in the partyrun revolutionary command council rcc, without whose approval no law could be.
It is grounded in thorough research, good judgment formed by working on iraq over a long period of time, and excellent analysis of iraq s governing institutions and their relation to society over time. Tripp offers a very readable account that presents the many different political figures, the ebb. Yergin s conversational style is a good fit whether he s explaining opec s imperium on. To understand iraq, charles tripp s history is the book to read. Tripp argues that the history of iraq throughout the twentieth century has shaped where it is today. In the monarchys 37 years, the government cabinet was shuffled more than 50 times. Nov 04, 2003 turning the page on iraq s history as revised history books roll off iraq s presses this month, some critics charge that they have moved from onesided to nosided. Iraq was colonized by great britain in particular, british efforts to colonize and govern iraq were miscalculated and self serving, resulting in the creation of an unbalanced and violent nation, divided along ethic and separation lines of many different ethnic backgrounds.
A chronology of key events in the history of iraq, from the time it formed part of the ottoman empire to the present. In 2015, russia launched airstrikes on rebel targets in syria for the first time. Brief overview of the history of iraq the land of iraq is often called the cradle of civilization because the oldest civilization in the world, the sumerians, was formed here. Aslam s haunting novel takes us deep into pre and post911 pakistan and afghanistan, and offers equally searing. People, history, politics provides a comprehensive analysis of the political, societal, and economic dynamics that have governed iraq s modern development. Fuad hussein said his team came under pressure from iraq s. But as such, it is also forcibly a history of the middle east s most powerful economic and political engine of the 20th century.
Iraq s full name is republic of iraq, or jumhuriyat al iraq komari eraq. Iraqs abundant oil revenues were used to develop the economy and to build new schools, hospitals, and other facilities. After the overthrow of the former iraqi regime, iraq s education system included approximately 6 million pupils from nursery level through 12th grade, in addition to approximately 300,000 teachers and administrators. The invasion phase began on 19 march 2003 air and 20 march 2003 ground and lasted just over one month, including 26 days of major combat operations, in which a combined force of troops from the united states, the united kingdom, australia and poland invaded iraq. Drawing from an extensive cache of captured iraqi government records, this book is the first comprehensive military and strategic account of the war through the lens of the iraqi regime and its senior military commanders. Keegan collated a welldetailed look into iraqi history, from its origins. The prime minister is the head of government and serves as the active executive authority. This is an outstanding work marked by objectivity and concern for the truth. Iraq war inquiry fiction history books society books features. It is grounded in thorough research, good judgment formed by working on iraq over a long period of time, and excellent analysis of iraqs governing institutions and their relation to society over time.
Strategic studies institute page images at hathitrust. These iraq war books recount, analyze, and revisit the effects and. We follow haifa zanganas experience as a political activist during saddam husseins reign in iraq. The iran iraq war is one of the largest, yet least documented conflicts in the history of the middle east. Education is compulsory in iraq until completion of elementary school. During the nine decades since iraq was established as a separate state in the aftermath of world war i, the policy of the united states towards it can be. The librarian of baghdad, rebuilding iraqs rich history one. Iraqi literature is, and has been, deeply marked by iraq s political history. The iraqi democracy and civil rights campaigner says the iran iraq war is one of the single largest unappreciated great events of modern middle eastern history. Iraqs population was estimated to be 2 million in 1878. Iraq s population was estimated to be 2 million in 1878. Gpo s bookstore has a number of books about iraq, but two stand out as bestsellers. Iraq borders turkey to the north and iran to the east. Iraq s abundant oil revenues were used to develop the economy and to build new schools, hospitals, and other facilities.
The disintegration of the iraqi state has its roots in world. Lessons of the iraqi debaathification program for iraq s future and the arab revolutions carlisle, pa. The best books on the history of iraq recommended by kanan makiya. Mar 18, 2020 on this day in 2003, the united states, along with coalition forces primarily from the united kingdom, initiates war on iraq. It is a parliamentary democracy which uses a federal system of government. The work carries a great deal of information that the u. Iraqs full name is republic of iraq, or jumhuriyat aliraqkomari eraq. There is a stark illumination on the psychological disturbances. Iraq has more water than most middle eastern nations, which led to the establishment of one of the world s earliest and most advanced civilizations. Military or civilian, it represents the finest in how the federal government serves it s warriors at a most critical time in their lives.
Journal of a company commander gives a realistic account by major todd brown of his experiences as a u. This discussion surveys the history of iraq since the 7th century ce. The federal government of iraq is defined under the current constitution, approved in 2005, as an islamic, democratic, federal parliamentary republic. Lets have a look at the five books you have chosen about iraq. The federal government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as numerous independent commissions. For over 3000 years the sumerian civilization flourished in the tigriseuphrates river valley. Iraq is the name of the state that currently partially encompasses the territory of the civilization.
The prime minister is the head of government and serves as. But the government dealt harshly with its internal enemies and pursued an aggressive foreign policy. The disintegration of the iraqi state has its roots in world war i created by european powers, the nation of iraq may be buckling under the pressure. According to the cia world factbook, citing a 1987 iraqi government estimate, the population of iraq is formed of 7580% arabs followed by 15% kurds. People, history, politics provides a comprehensive analysis of the political, societal, and economic dynamics that have governed iraqs modern development. In the late 1970s, a period of economic upturn, prominent writers in iraq were provided with an apartment and car by saddam hussein s government, and were guaranteed at least one publication per year. The disintegration of the iraqi state has its roots in.
The united states leads an invasion of iraq, pushing saddam hussein s government out. Phebe marr, author of the modern history of iraq adeed dawisha has written a deeply informed study of the history of the iraqi state. Gpos bookstore has a number of books about iraq, but two stand out as bestsellers. Adeed dawisha is distinguished professor of political science at miami university in ohio. Top 10 books about the iraq war books the guardian. The country of iraq is a relatively modern phenomena, with the entire region, in antiquity and into modern times known as mesopotamia. List of books and articles about iraqi history online. Top 10 books about the iraq war ranging from forensic intelligence reports to biting reportage and searing fiction and memoir, these books lay bare the mistakes that drove the war, and reveal. Apr 14, 2017 15 great books about iraq, afghanistan. After a surge of troops to quell violence in 20072008, the us withdrew from baghdad in june of 2009 and left iraq.
Just after explosions began to rock baghdad, iraqs capital, u. Since that time, iraq s government has been working toward establishing a democracy, temporarily under the administration of the united states. In april 2003, during the iraq war, iraqi president and dictator saddam hussein was overthrown by american and british forces and their allies. At later times, it was ruled by the greeks, the romans, the persians, and the ottoman turks. Hafidh, whose dream is to read all of iraqs books, said the library was also part of an effort to preserve what was left after thousands of documents and books were lost or damaged during the. Posts about iraq written by trudy hawkins, michele bartram, u. This is a book to be read by all who care about iraqs future. The unicameral parliament is called the council of representatives. Now the movement is nearly crushed the powerful protests, which led a prime minister to resign, are reeling since influential cleric muqtada alsadr turned on. Learn about the political instability in iraq, where it began, and the latest developments with the center for preventive action s global conflict tracker.
Check out our country profile, full of essential information about iraq s geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. This is a novel, originally written in arabic, by a new yorkbased iraqi writer who left the. Iraqa s culture, government, and history scholastic. A political history from independence to occupation. The ancient sumerians, babylonians, and assyrians all developed great empires in the region between the tigris and euphrates rivers. It s a history of oil on all continents, not just the middle east. The 2003 invasion of iraq was the first stage of the iraq war. The book is different from other studies of iraqs political history. I am reluctant to let that fact disappear down the memory hole, because if as the war ends, or at least starts to end if, at this time, the history of the war is written as us going there to topple the regime of a bad man when that frankly isnt why were told that we were going there. It takes the reader away from the superficial and onesided way in which the u.
It has often been affected by losses resulting from warfare. The politics of iraq take place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic. During ancient times, lands that now constitute iraq were known as mesopotamia. Others tie iraqs bloody history, as many have described it, to the preponderance of groups vying for power. Lost painting is a remarkable synthesis of history and. The true story of brainwashing and how it shaped america. The new government proclaimed iraq to be a republic and rejected the idea of a union with jordan. Iraq drains water from southern marshlands inhabited muslim shiites, in retaliation for the shiites longstanding opposition to saddam hussein s government april. Situating recent events within a longer historical timeframe, this book is a mustread for anyone wanting to understand the deep histories that underpin the contemporary politics of this wartorn and troubled state. The emphasis here should be on political history this book provides a good account of iraq s national level politics in the 20th century, but contains very little coverage of the rest of the country during the period. In 20 iraq s population reached 35 million amid a postwar population boom. Political instability in iraq global conflict tracker. In 20 iraqs population reached 35 million amid a postwar population boom.
Yet as adeed dawisha shows in this superb political history, the story of. An italian village on a hilltop near the adriatic coast, a. It was probably the most populous and wealthy area in the middle east, and the intensive irrigation agriculture of the lower tigris and euphrates rivers. Situating recent events within a longer historical timeframe, this book is a mustread for anyone wanting to understand the deep histories that underpin the. After a surge of troops to quell violence in 20072008, the us withdrew from baghdad in june of 2009 and left iraq completely in december of 2011. Like the records of the cuban missile crisis and wikileaks, these volumes will. The head of state is the president, currently jalal talabani, while the head of government is prime minister nuri almaliki. Fuad hussein said his team came under pressure from iraq s religious groups hoping. Syrias government forces took control of aleppo in late 2016, ending more than four years of rebel rule in the.
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