The Iraqi Revolution of 1958

This book advances the argument that the events of July 14, 1958, when Iraqi military officers overthrew the British-installed Iraqi monarchy, constituted simultaneously as a coup and a revolution for a number of reasons, including military involvement, popular participation, and policies that radically departed from those of the previous regime.

In the early hours of July 14, 1958, Iraqi military officers overthrew the British-installed Iraqi monarchy. The Free Officers coup initiated an era of military and subsequently Ba'thist rule that only ended with the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Historians are at variance over the nature of what is called the Iraqi Revolution in the Arab world. Some scholars argue that the overthrow was merely a coup d'Ztat orchestrated by the Free Officers Movement. Other analysts contend that the overthrow constituted a real revolution. Very few works, if any, provide a detailed analysis in support of the 'revolutionary' argument. Dr. Romero's book advances the argument that the events of July 14 simultaneously constituted a coup and a revolution for a number of reasons, including military involvement, popular participation, and policies that radically departed from those of the previous regime.

Chapter 1 List of Figures
Chapter 2 List of Tables
Chapter 3 Note on Transliteration
Chapter 4 Preface
Chapter 5 Acknowledgements
Chapter 6 Introduction
Chapter 7 1. Internal Developments
Chapter 8 2. Regional Security
Chapter 9 3. Repression and Exploitation
Chapter 10 4. Intelligence and Influence
Chapter 11 5. The Fertile Crescent
Chapter 12 6. The Free Officers Movement
Chapter 13 7. A Coup and a Revolution
Chapter 14 8. State: Structure and Reform
Chapter 15 9. International Reactions
Chapter 16 10. Qasim's Foreign Policy
Chapter 17 11. Arab Unity and Discord
Chapter 18 Conclusion
Chapter 19 Figures
Chapter 20 Tables
Chapter 21 Bibliography
Chapter 22 Index
Chapter 23 About the Author