Iraq+Transjordan+Mandate

Luke Laws(REAPER) John Tarbox(GRIZZ) November 15, 2009 Question Outline Iraq and Transjordan Mandate Comparison(**OPERATION**: Indigo Bravo Hotel **OBJECTIVE**: BRAVO-4 ECHO KILO ZULU)

• **__Economic__** o Iraq • Basra was linked with the Persian Gulf, helping trade • While initially dependent on Britain, the Iraqi economy became more self-sufficient as time passed

o Transjordan • Abdallah was eager to expand his influence, and did so by attempting to gain new territories in the Middle East. • His attempts to gain territory were largely unsuccessful, but what area he did gain aided Transjordan economically. • Transjordan was still largely dependent on Britain for the stability of the economy. o Comparison • Both countries were initially dependent on Britain, but eventually became self-sufficient for economic support. Even as British economic influence faded, Transjordan remained closely tied to Britain while Iraq severed most connections.

• __**Political**__ o Iraq • Did not become a “unified” Iraqi state until the British mandate in 1920 • The Organic Law of 1925 defined as a hereditary constitutional monarchy with an elected bicameral legislature • British selected Amir Faysal to become first ruler of Iraq. Had to make it appear that he was not a British puppet to give him credibility to rule • After Faysal’s rule had ended, Iraqi political stability fell apart. It degenerated into a struggle of the elite to hold the position of Prime Minister, and government rulers rarely lasted more that a few months • General Sidqi lead a coup d’etat that over threw the government in 1936. This lead to a series of six military coups throughout 1941 • In 1939 King Ghazi was killed and his three year old son took over the throne as Faysal II • During 1939 many fascist movements swept threw Iraq with anti-British thoughts • The most prominent civilian politician, Nuri continued to believe in supporting Britain despite other efforts to push the British out • Rashid Ali al-Gaylani came to power in 1941 following a coup

o Transjordan • More of an artificial state to please the interests of foreign nations, mainly Great Britain • The government established by this mandate would be largely dependent on British influence, so that the British could try and establish peace in the tribal regions near the Jordan river. • Transjordan had no previous political existence, similar to Iraq • Run by Amir Abdallah and his British advisors. British rule was indirect, but British interests were preserved and protected by the established government. • Because a large goal of the mandate was to bring peace to the region, a large and reliable armed force was necessary, and established successfully by the British • Transjordan remained largely dependent and helpful to Britain during the interwar and World War II eras, and was rewarded by receiving independence after WWII.

o Comparison • Iraq began working to force out the British from the beginning of their existence to try and gain independence while Transjordan took a different approach by staying loyal. While both technically established “independence,” Britain still played a large part in the influence of politics in both countries.

• Social o Iraq • The states Anatolia, Greater Syria, and Basra were combined to from Iraq • 80% of the population are Arabs • Over half the population professed Shi’ism the remainder were Sunnis • 20% of the population were Kurdish • The Iraq army was established in 1921 o Transjordan • Abdallah made most of the decisions regarding the social state of the mandate, as the British allowed the system to become more of a traditional monarchy rather than a constitutional one. • Abdallah was somewhat of an enigma to the public. His family controlled the throne of Iraq, which earned him credibility in the eyes of the population • Although when negotiating new territories in the area, Abdallah agreed to negotiate with Zionists, which made some Arabs wary of his influence. • The social interests of Britain in monitoring the Transjordan government were to maintain the interests of Anglo-French settlements in the region o Comparison • Both states are composed mostly of an Arab population, but the mandate establishing Transjordan protected more foreign social interests by protecting Anglo-French settlements while the Iraq mandate set up little social aspects of the territory.