Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-led faction)
Encyclopedia
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (also spelled Ba'th or Baath which means "resurrection" or "renaissance"; ) is a pan-Arab
nationalist
and Arab socialist
political party
which was headquartered in Baghdad
. The party is one of the two parties (with identical names) that emerged out the 1966 split in the original Ba'ath Party.
The Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party was a cell of the Ba'ath Party until 1966 when the organisation split in half; the one half led by the Damascus cell of the Ba'ath Party which established a party in Syria, the other half led by the then newly-established Iraqi Ba'ath Party. Both Ba'ath parties retained the same name and maintained parallel structures in the Arab World, but became so antagonistic that the Syrian Ba'ath regime became the only Arab government to support non-Arab Iran
against Iraq during the bloody Iran-Iraq War
. Ba'athists seized power in Iraq for the first time in 1963, but were deposed some months later. The party's regional organisation governed Ba'athist Iraq
between 1968 and 2003, for many years under the leadership of Saddam Hussein
. The party was banned in Iraq following the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003.
and encouraged Iraqis to identify themselves as the cultural and civilizational heirs to Mesopotamian and Medieval Islamic identity. Saddam Hussein
sought to be seen as the leader of a great neo-Mesopotamian Iraqi nation by having himself compared to Nebuchadnezzar II and Hammurabi
.
In June 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA) banned the Ba'ath party. Some criticize the additional step the CPA took—of banning all members of the top four tiers of the Ba'ath Party from the new government, as well as from public schools and colleges—as blocking too many experienced people from participation in the new government. Thousands were removed from their positions, including doctors, professors, school teachers, bureaucrats and more. Many teachers lost their jobs, causing protests and demonstrations at schools and universities. Under the previous rule of the Ba'ath party, one could not reach high positions in the government or in the schools without becoming a party member. In fact, party membership was a prerequisite for university admission. In other words, while many Ba'athists joined for ideological reasons, many more were members because it was a way to better their options. After much pressure by the US, the policy of de-Ba'athification
was addressed by the Iraqi government in January, 2008 in the highly controversial "Accountability and Justice Act" which was supposed to ease the policy, but which many feared would actually lead to further dismissals.
in Syria in 1947, ba'athist
ideas spread throughout the Arab world
. In Jordan ba'athist thought first spread to the East Bank in the late-1940s, most notably at universities. While the regional branch was not formed before 1951, several meetings took place at the universities were students and professors alike would discuss the ideology of the newly established Syrian ba'athist party. Several people expressed their support for ba'athist ideology at this meetings, but the regional branch itself was not formed until 1951 in Karak
by a group of teachers.
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party by Amr Taher Deghayes. Ba'athism
was a major political force in Libya following the establishment of the United Arab Republic
(UAR). Many intellectuals were attracted to ba'athist ideology during the later years of the Kingdom of Libya
. However, with help from nasserist propaganda, several ba'athists changed affiliation and became nasserists instead. The growth of these pan-Arab ideologies concerned the government, which led to several nasserists and ba'athists in 1960 and 1962 respectively who worked in the military were jailed. The ba'athist were accused of working to overthrow "the political, economic and social system" of the Kingdom; the sentences ranged from everything to eight months to two years.
. The Mauritanian Ba'ath Party remains the largest arab nationalist political force in the country. The branch has maintained good relations with the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party even after Saddam Hussein
's downfall following the United States invasion of Iraq. The party was able to field candidates for seats in parliament during the 1992 parliamentary elections
, and was the only party, with the exception of the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
, to field candidates for the Senate elections. The party was illegalised in 1999, and the branch's leader was jailed for a short time in 2003.
led by Rasul al-Jishi, the Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party
led by Abdul Majid Mohamed Tayeb Rafi, the Arab Liberation Front in Palestine
led by Mahmoud Ismael, Ba'ath Party in Sudan led by Kamal Bolad, the Ba'ath Movement in Tunisia led by Omar Othman Belhadj and a Iraqi Ba'ath cell in Syria.
Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
nationalist
Arab nationalism
Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology celebrating the glories of Arab civilization, the language and literature of the Arabs, calling for rejuvenation and political union in the Arab world...
and Arab socialist
Arab socialism
Arab socialism is a political ideology based on an amalgamation of Pan-Arabism and socialism. Arab socialism is distinct from the much broader tradition of socialist thought in the Arab world, which predates Arab socialism by as much as fifty years...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which was headquartered in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. The party is one of the two parties (with identical names) that emerged out the 1966 split in the original Ba'ath Party.
The Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party was a cell of the Ba'ath Party until 1966 when the organisation split in half; the one half led by the Damascus cell of the Ba'ath Party which established a party in Syria, the other half led by the then newly-established Iraqi Ba'ath Party. Both Ba'ath parties retained the same name and maintained parallel structures in the Arab World, but became so antagonistic that the Syrian Ba'ath regime became the only Arab government to support non-Arab Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
against Iraq during the bloody Iran-Iraq War
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
. Ba'athists seized power in Iraq for the first time in 1963, but were deposed some months later. The party's regional organisation governed Ba'athist Iraq
Ba'athist Iraq
The History of Iraq , referred to as Ba'athist Iraq, covers the period of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's rule over Iraq. Ba'athist rule in Iraq first occurred briefly in 1963 under Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr until overthrown that same year. Ba'athism was restored to power five years later after...
between 1968 and 2003, for many years under the leadership of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
. The party was banned in Iraq following the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Iraq
In Iraq, the Ba'ath party remained a civilian group and lacked strong support within the military. The party had little impact, and the movement split into several factions after 1958 and again in 1966. The movement was reported to have lacked strong popular support, but through the construction of a strong party apparatus the party succeeded in gaining power. The Iraqi-based party was originally committed to Pan-Arabism like its Syrian counterpart but after taking power in 1968 the party adopted Iraqi nationalismIraqi nationalism
Iraqi nationalism refers to a nationalism based on Iraqi identity. Iraqi nationalism in history was influential in Iraq's movement to independence from Ottoman and British occupation. Iraqi nationalism was an important aspect in the 1920 Revolution against British occupation, and the 1958...
and encouraged Iraqis to identify themselves as the cultural and civilizational heirs to Mesopotamian and Medieval Islamic identity. Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
sought to be seen as the leader of a great neo-Mesopotamian Iraqi nation by having himself compared to Nebuchadnezzar II and Hammurabi
Hammurabi
Hammurabi Hammurabi Hammurabi (Akkadian from Amorite ʻAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer", from ʻAmmu, "paternal kinsman", and Rāpi, "healer"; (died c...
.
In June 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
(CPA) banned the Ba'ath party. Some criticize the additional step the CPA took—of banning all members of the top four tiers of the Ba'ath Party from the new government, as well as from public schools and colleges—as blocking too many experienced people from participation in the new government. Thousands were removed from their positions, including doctors, professors, school teachers, bureaucrats and more. Many teachers lost their jobs, causing protests and demonstrations at schools and universities. Under the previous rule of the Ba'ath party, one could not reach high positions in the government or in the schools without becoming a party member. In fact, party membership was a prerequisite for university admission. In other words, while many Ba'athists joined for ideological reasons, many more were members because it was a way to better their options. After much pressure by the US, the policy of de-Ba'athification
De-Ba'athification
De-Ba'athification refers to a Coalition Provisional Authority policy outlined in CPA Order 1 which entered into force on 16 May 2003. The policy’s goal was to remove the Ba'ath Party's influence in the new Iraqi political system...
was addressed by the Iraqi government in January, 2008 in the highly controversial "Accountability and Justice Act" which was supposed to ease the policy, but which many feared would actually lead to further dismissals.
Jordan
Following the establishment of the Arab Ba'ath MovementArab Ba'ath Movement
The Arab Ba'ath Movement , also literally translated as Arab Resurrection Movement or Arab Renaissance Movement, was the Ba'athist political movement and predacessor of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party...
in Syria in 1947, ba'athist
Ba'athism
Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi , Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar...
ideas spread throughout the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. In Jordan ba'athist thought first spread to the East Bank in the late-1940s, most notably at universities. While the regional branch was not formed before 1951, several meetings took place at the universities were students and professors alike would discuss the ideology of the newly established Syrian ba'athist party. Several people expressed their support for ba'athist ideology at this meetings, but the regional branch itself was not formed until 1951 in Karak
Karak
The term Karak can refer to:* Karak, Pakistan, a city in Pakistan.* Karak District, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa previously called , Pakistan....
by a group of teachers.
Libya
The party was founded as a regional branch of the pan-ArabPan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party by Amr Taher Deghayes. Ba'athism
Ba'athism
Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi , Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar...
was a major political force in Libya following the establishment of the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
(UAR). Many intellectuals were attracted to ba'athist ideology during the later years of the Kingdom of Libya
Kingdom of Libya
The Kingdom of Libya, originally called the United Libyan Kingdom came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a coup d'état led by Muammar Gaddafi on 1 September 1969 overthrew King Idris of Libya and established the Libyan Arab Republic.- Constitution :Under the...
. However, with help from nasserist propaganda, several ba'athists changed affiliation and became nasserists instead. The growth of these pan-Arab ideologies concerned the government, which led to several nasserists and ba'athists in 1960 and 1962 respectively who worked in the military were jailed. The ba'athist were accused of working to overthrow "the political, economic and social system" of the Kingdom; the sentences ranged from everything to eight months to two years.
Mauritania
The branch was founded in 1991, during the Gulf crisisGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The Mauritanian Ba'ath Party remains the largest arab nationalist political force in the country. The branch has maintained good relations with the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party even after Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's downfall following the United States invasion of Iraq. The party was able to field candidates for seats in parliament during the 1992 parliamentary elections
Mauritanian parliamentary election, 1992
Parliamentary elections were held in Mauritania on 6 March 1992, with a second round on 13 March. They were the first National Assembly elections after the constitutional referendum the previous year that resulted in the reintroduction of multi-party democracy. The result was a victory for the...
, and was the only party, with the exception of the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal
The Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal is a political party in Mauritania. Formerly known as the Democratic and Social Republican Party , , the grouping has changed its identity and adjusted its political stance following the 2005 coup...
, to field candidates for the Senate elections. The party was illegalised in 1999, and the branch's leader was jailed for a short time in 2003.
Yemen
The branch's regional secretary is Dr. Qassem Salam Said. Abdulwahid Hawash serves as the deputy secretary. The party publishes the newspaper al-Ehyaa al-Arabi (لإحياء العربي, 'Arabic Renaissance').Others
There are several other ba'athist branches as well, such as the Ba'ath Party in Algeria led by Ahmed Choutri, the Nationalist Democratic Rally Society in BahrainNationalist Democratic Rally Society
Nationalist Democratic Assembly , a political group attached to the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party in Bahrain. The organization is led by Rasul al-Jishi....
led by Rasul al-Jishi, the Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party
Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party
The Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party is a political party in Lebanon. The party is led by Abdul Majid Mohamed Tayeb Rafi. The party held its second congress in October 2011.Founders of the party included Dr...
led by Abdul Majid Mohamed Tayeb Rafi, the Arab Liberation Front in Palestine
Arab Liberation Front
Arab Liberation Front is a minor Palestinian political faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , politically tied to the Iraqi Ba'ath Party formerly headed by Saddam Hussein.- Historical background :...
led by Mahmoud Ismael, Ba'ath Party in Sudan led by Kamal Bolad, the Ba'ath Movement in Tunisia led by Omar Othman Belhadj and a Iraqi Ba'ath cell in Syria.