1. Colonialism in Practice The Case of Iraq Gertrude Bell King Faisal 1

2. Map of Iraq

3. Background on Iraq: Two Points Iraq did not exist as a state prior to 1921. Created from 3 Ottoman provinces of Mosul, Baghdad, & Basra Diverse Population Religious divisions: Sunnis, Shiites (& Christians) Ethno-linguistic divisions: Arabs, Kurds Population: 60% Shiite Arab; 15% Sunni Arab; 20 % Kurd (mostly Sunnis)

5. British colonial rule British invasion Basra 1914 Baghdad 1917 British plans (Dodge) Original plans Evolving plans How the British maintained influence Political structures Military force (warplanes) Arab & Iraqi Resistance Political resistance Uprisings: 1920 (southern tribes)

6. Faisal I, 1 st king of Iraq Goals Gradual eradication of British influence in Iraq Creation of a national state Photos from Iraqipages.com

7. Resistance to the new regime Kurds (opposed Arab nationalism) Shiite Arabs (opposed educational reforms & exclusion from government) Landowners (opposed efforts to redistribute land and erode their power base) The “masses” (opposed conscription, etc.) In 1930s, at least 80 percent of Iraq’s population was rural

8. Major players in Iraqi Politics, 1921-1936 Monarchy & Prime Ministry Rural Shiites Tribal leaders & Landlords Kurds British

9. Results: Fledgling sense of Iraqi national identity British presence & state reliance on external aid to maintain power = loss of monarch’s legitimacy Centralization of power in Baghdad Catch-22 of Iraqi politics: to create mass support, land reform needed, but narrow base of state support requires aid from landlords