Iraqi Soldiers Political Studies (1921-1948)

The distinguishing feature in the political progress of Iraq is the attempted control of the army to the state power. The army troop of Iraq was established in1921and had been serving for Iraq for82years till it was dismissed after the Iraq War in2003. The government and the army of Iraq have been closely connected with each other for all the powers of Iraq all try their best efforts to turn the army troop into their supporter and both of the two sides are available for each other and needs each other. The army of Iraq has a significant impact on the stability of the Iraq government and under some circumstances they may give order to or even overturn the government to influence the political development.However, the different groups are not united within the army. With the threat of the army officials'intervention into politics and the unstable army-civilian relationship, turbulences exist everywhere in this country. There is no united ideology because it is broke down with the influence of personal prestige, ideology and the race-religious benefit conflict. And the break can originate to the break in the hierarchy in the army troops, in the break of religions and minor ethical groups. If the general survey is made, we will find that although there is distinction in the troops they are still proud to be the supporter for the safety and union of the whole country. The army troops of Iraq differ from the traditional value. They are more like a safety organization of a country, which guarantee the legacy of the government by force. It is they who maintain the political stability, crush the tribe uprising and religious rebellion especially the threat caused by the Kurdish rebellion.The Iraq army troops have always been a double edged sword:they guarantee the existence of the political power, but meanwhile they are also the threat of the government.The whole thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One mainly includes the establishment of the Iraq army under the control of the U.K. government. In this period, the politicians of Iraq attempt to maintain the new born country. In1932when Iraq gained the independence, the army troop showed more enthusiasm in taking part in political affairs and it was expanded with the implementation of national compulsory enrollment in the armed forces and as a consequence, the army troop were split into several sects. The army officials want a troop ruled by all the groups within the country and go beyond the diversity of race, religion and sects, hoping to unit them into a single national constitution.Chapter Two is about the military coup from1936to1941. In this period, the situation of the country was tense and turbulent. The civil politics was weak and the army took a significance role in the political process. It was the army troop that decided the destiny of the country and the military officer become the patron of the politician. And the nationalist military officials were frequently involved in political affairs.Chapter three concentrates on the reestablishment of the Iraq army with the help of U.K. After the30-day-war the army of U.K. occupied Iraq for the second time, and U.K. launched a reestablishment of the Iraq army so as to realize the de-political change of the Iraq army and make the army under the government control.In Chapter Four, the author makes an in-depth analysis of the division of the Iraq army and excavates that the division of the Iraq army is due to the diversity of the nations, religions and ideology.Conclusion is a brief introduction of the interrelationship between the army and politics in the Middle East. Owing to the special historical elements and the circumstances both at home and abroad, the armies in the Middle East play a distinguishing role in the political field and this is different from other nations.