| How did Saddam Hussein exploit political instability to gain power? | By leveraging coups and instability to advance within the Ba’ath Party and government |
| How did Saddam Hussein use propaganda to build his image? | By presenting himself as a decisive and patriotic leader through public appearances and media |
| What was the primary reason the British were keen to take over Iraq in the early 20th century? | Due to the abundance of oil in the region |
| What was the 'Revolution of 1920' in Iraq? | A rebellion against British rule, led by Iraqi nationalists, which the British crushed but which increased opposition |
| Who was invited by the British to become King of Iraq in 1921? | Faisal, a member of a leading Arab family |
| What was the status of Iraq after the First World War and the breakup of the Turkish Empire? | Iraq became a League of Nations mandate run by the British |
| How did the British handle the uprising in Iraq in 1920? | They sent 100,000 troops to crush the rebellion, which led to increased opposition |
| What was one of the key ways Britain maintained control over Iraq under King Faisal? | They controlled Iraq’s foreign policy and maintained air bases near Basra and Baghdad. |
| What was the economic situation in Iraq during King Faisal’s reign? | There was economic development, with improvements in education, but there was significant inequality, with a small number of wealthy landowners dominating while the majority of the population remained poor. |
| How did Iraq's relationship with Israel affect its relations with Britain? | Britain supported the creation of Israel in 1948, which was opposed by many Arab states, including Iraq. |
| How was the oil industry structured in Iraq in 1952? | The Iraqi government agreed to share oil profits equally with the British-dominated Iraqi Petroleum Company, but the company still controlled production and pricing. |
| When and where was Saddam Hussein born? | Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937, in Al-Awja, near Tikrit, in northern Iraq. |
| What political ideology did Saddam Hussein become exposed to through his uncle, Khairallah Talfah? | Saddam Hussein was exposed to Arab nationalist ideas, which influenced his future political beliefs. |
| Which political party did Saddam Hussein join in the 1950s, and what were its key principles? | Saddam joined the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, which advocated for Pan-Arabism, socialism, and anti-imperialism. |
| What event led to Iraq becoming a republic in 1958? | The monarchy was overthrown in a military coup led by General Abdul Karim Qasim. |
| What happened during the 1959 assassination attempt on General Qasim? | Saddam Hussein participated in a failed assassination attempt on General Qasim and then fled to Syria and later Egypt after it failed. |
| When did the Ba’ath Party first take power in Iraq, and who led the coup? | The Ba’ath Party first took power in February 1963, led by Arab Nationalists and General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr. |
| What was one of Saddam Hussein's key actions during his rise to power in the 1970s? | In 1972, Saddam played a key role in nationalizing Iraq’s oil industry, which increased state revenue and boosted his popularity. |
| How did Saddam Hussein secure his position as president in 1979? | Saddam forced al-Bakr to resign on July 16, 1979, and staged a purge of the Ba’ath Party by accusing key members of conspiracy, leading to several executions. |
| What was the role of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) in the Iraqi Interim Constitution of 1970, and how did it help Saddam Hussein consolidate power? | The RCC was established as the supreme authority in Iraq, with the power to legislate, execute, and override other governmental bodies. Saddam Hussein, as Chairman of the RCC in 1979, used this position to exercise near-absolute control over the state. |
| What key provision in the Iraqi Interim Constitution of 1970 allowed for the centralization of power? | Article 42 of the constitution established the RCC as the supreme authority, enabling the centralization of power and giving Saddam Hussein the means to control the government effectively. |
| How did Article 37 of the Iraqi Interim Constitution of 1970 enhance the authority of the President? | Article 37 granted the President extensive powers, including the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers and issue decrees with the force of law, allowing the President to enact policies unilaterally. |
| In what ways did the powers granted to the President under Article 37 contribute to Saddam Hussein's ability to bypass checks and balances? | The President's ability to appoint and dismiss ministers and issue decrees with the force of law gave Saddam the authority to make decisions without needing approval from other branches of government, effectively bypassing checks and balances. |
| How did Article 13 of the Iraqi Interim Constitution of 1970 allow Saddam Hussein to increase domestic support? | It gave the state control over key industries, which Saddam used to nationalise the oil industry in 1972. This popular anti-imperialist policy boosted state revenue, enabling Saddam to reward loyalists, fund security forces, and strengthen his regime's support. |
| What role did the nationalisation of the oil industry in 1972 play in Saddam Hussein's ability to expand the armed forces? | The increased state revenue from oil nationalisation allowed Saddam to fund the expansion of Iraq's armed forces, strengthening his military power and solidifying his control over the country. |
| How did Article 25 of the Iraqi Interim Constitution justify the suppression of opposition groups in Saddam Hussein's Iraq? | Stressed the state's role in protecting the political system against threats, which Saddam used to justify the suppression of opposition groups. Under the guise of national security, Saddam employed intelligence agencies and military tribunals to eliminate political rivals and silence dissent. |
| In what ways did Saddam Hussein use intelligence agencies and military tribunals to suppress opposition? | Saddam used the legal framework provided by Article 25 to justify the extensive use of intelligence agencies to monitor and neutralise opponents. Military tribunals were used to swiftly try and eliminate dissent, further consolidating Saddam's grip on power. |
| How did Saddam Hussein’s policies towards the Kurds evolve over time, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s? | Saddam’s policies initially aimed at suppressing Kurdish self-rule, but the situation escalated in the 1980s, especially during the Iran-Iraq War, when he sought to crush Kurdish resistance by using brutal tactics, including the infamous chemical attack on Halabja in 1988. |
| What was the role of the Kurdish peshmerga in Iraq’s conflicts, and how did they challenge Saddam Hussein’s regime? | The Kurdish peshmerga (militant forces) played a significant role in resisting Saddam’s regime, often receiving support from external actors like Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Their resistance in the northern regions was a constant source of tension for Saddam’s government. |
| In what ways did Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons against the Kurds violate international law? | Saddam’s use of chemical weapons in Halabja violated international conventions such as the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons in warfare, and was later a major factor in his war crimes charges. |
| What was the impact of Saddam Hussein’s policies on the relationship between Iraq’s Kurdish population and the central government? | Saddam’s brutal repression, including military attacks and chemical warfare, deepened the division between the Kurdish population and the Iraqi central government. It fostered longstanding resentment, which played a key role in later Kurdish struggles for autonomy. |
| How did the international community respond to Saddam Hussein’s treatment of the Kurds, particularly during and after the Halabja attack? | While there was international condemnation, particularly from human rights organizations, responses were limited due to geopolitical interests. Saddam’s actions were not sufficiently addressed by the UN at the time, with the broader international community remaining largely passive during the chemical attacks and subsequent repression. |
