Luke Laws
John Tarbox
November 15, 2009
Question Outline
Iraq and Transjordan Mandate Comparison
· 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.