King Ghazi: Iraqi Ataturk?
King Ghazi's short reign is an interesting period in Iraqi history. Ghazi was by accounts i've read a very popular king who pushed modernization, nationalism, Pan Arabism, anti-imperialism and was himself a homosexual. He established his own radio station called Qasr Al Zuhour to promote his views and tried to claim control over Kuwait. He supported a military coup by Kurdish General Bakr Sidqi against the Iraqi pro British civilian government. Ultimately Sidqi was assassinated and Ghazi died in a mysterious car accident at age 27.
My question is what if Ghazi and Sidqi lived and remained in control for a few decades? Ghazi was a great admirer of Ataturk and hoped to implement similar policies in Iraq. Could Ghazi have brought stability and made Iraq into a well functioning nation-state like Ataturk did for Turkey? Would he have faced similar incidents to the Simele and Dersim massacres? What could his pan-Arab movement have achieved? Long term survival of the Iraqi monarchy?
King Ghazi's short reign is an interesting period in Iraqi history. Ghazi was by accounts i've read a very popular king who pushed modernization, nationalism, Pan Arabism, anti-imperialism and was himself a homosexual. He established his own radio station called Qasr Al Zuhour to promote his views and tried to claim control over Kuwait. He supported a military coup by Kurdish General Bakr Sidqi against the Iraqi pro British civilian government. Ultimately Sidqi was assassinated and Ghazi died in a mysterious car accident at age 27.
My question is what if Ghazi and Sidqi lived and remained in control for a few decades? Ghazi was a great admirer of Ataturk and hoped to implement similar policies in Iraq. Could Ghazi have brought stability and made Iraq into a well functioning nation-state like Ataturk did for Turkey? Would he have faced similar incidents to the Simele and Dersim massacres? What could his pan-Arab movement have achieved? Long term survival of the Iraqi monarchy?
http://cachecoins.org/iraq1938.htmHis government worked towards a union of Arab countries under the Pan-Arab movement. He signed Treaties and non-aggression pacts with Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey
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