Christians, Jews, and other minorities contributed to Iraq’s cultural richness but sometimes faced social and economic marginalization. Managing these internal divisions was a constant challenge for governments before Saddam, shaping the authoritarian and centralizing policies he later pursued. Movements inspired by Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser encouraged Iraqi leaders to adopt pan-Arabist rhetoric and policies. Iraq had tense relations with Iran, Kuwait, and other neighboring states over borders and oil resources.
Both the United States and the Soviet Union sought influence in Iraq, supporting different factions at different times, reflecting Iraq’s strategic importance and oil wealth. These pressures created a politically charged environment in which authoritarian and militarized leadership emerged as a solution to instability. A successful coup brought the Ba’athists to power permanently, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as president. This marked the beginning of a period of relative stability and strong centralized control.
