This Week in History

CWA # 1415
This Week in History
Saddam Hussein becomes the President of Iraq

Nandini Khandelwal
28 July 2024
Photo Source: The Conversation

On 16 July 1979, Saddam Hussein became the President of Iraq, leaving a deep impact on regional and global politics during his rule until2003. He became the President after Ahmad Hasan al-Bakr resigned due to internal Ba'ath party pressure and the latter's declining health. He is known as a courageous moderniser yet known for his authoritarianism, and state control. 

The Rise of Saddam
Saddam Hussein, born with a turbulent childhood in 1937. He was influenced by Ba'athism philosophy, which advocates for pan-Arabism and the enlightenment of Arabs through a modern unified Arab socialist state. Also inspired by the Western notion of socialism, his ideology differed from the ultra-Islamists and communists as the former could promote the sectarianism between Shias and Sunnis, and the latter could lead towards atheism to the destruction of Arab unity, thus emphasising the renaissance of the Islamic culture as a national heritage rather than only theology. This came to be known as ‘Saddamism’ after he took power since he strategically used religion as an instrument to preserve his regime. 

His leadership had two major objectives. One, lessen Egypt's standing as the leader of the Arab world. Despite being influenced by Gamel Abdel Nasser, he turned against Egypt with the new presidency of Anwar Saddat under whose regime, the rapprochement with Israel happened in 1979, given the animosity between Iraq and Israel. Second, promote regional stability from an anti-western stance, making Iraq the only legitimate leader of the Persian Gulf. 

Three major events before Hussein became president contributed to the strengthening of his nationalist worldview. The first is the 1968 coup, also known as the 17 July Revolution. He was a key player in the planning and execution of a successful coup against the then-President Abdul Rahman Arif as well as Prime Minister Tahir Yahya, belonging to the Arab Socialist Union. Following the coup, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's Iraqi Regional branch came to power, and Hussein advanced to the position of vice president under President Hasan al-Bakr.

The second event that shaped Hussein's anti-Western stance in the Iraqi economy was the nationalisation of the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) in 1972. It was the outcome of growing disagreements between the Iraqi government, and the shareholders of IPC, including the US, UK, France, and the Netherlands, which operated in northern Iraq. The relationship between the Iraqi government and the stakeholders also reached an all-time low as a result of the sharp decline in oil production from the northern areas. As a result, in response to mounting pressure from Iraq’s populace, the government decided to nationalise the oil company and renamed it as Iraq National Oil Company (INOC). This further accentuated the Cold War since INOC began relying upon the Soviet Union for marketing its nationalised oil. However, the latter could make only modest purchases since it couldn’t displace its oil with the Iraqi in its foreign trade with other countries. 

The third event was the Iraq-Kurdish War. Since the first war ended in a standoff, the Kurds living in northern Iraq had been the target of animosity from the Iraqi government. The government reversed its decision of a fictitious promise of a peace plan in 1970 but later launched a fresh uprising against the Kurds by 1974. Additionally, Iraq and Iran negotiated a deal known as the Algiers Agreement signed in 1975, which forbade Iran from sending Kurds to Iraq in exchange for Iraq transferring to Iran a piece of territory that was half the width of Shatt-al Arab. Relocating the Arab population to the north of Iraq, fulfilled Iraq's goal of reducing aid for the Kurds and initiating the Arabisation program.

Iraq: Saddam and after
Saddam Hussein strategically used the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), particularly in the wake of Iran’s Islamic revolution, which was viewed with caution by both regional and global powers. As a result, Iraq received the most advanced armament equipment to combat Iran, notwithstanding the war ending in a stalemate. Though autocratic and suspected of numerous human rights violations, Hussein's secular rule in Iraq was regarded as more stabilising than Iran's Islamic regime. For instance, the US removed Iraq from the list of nations supporting terrorism in 1982 and resumed its diplomatic relations in 1984 after having been severed during the 1967 war with Israel. Despite this, cautious optimism was expressed regarding the nation's prospects.  

The Gulf War (1990–91) turned against Saddam. He invaded Kuwait, claiming it of diverting crude oil from an oil field near their shared border. As retaliation, he asked that Iraq's $30 billion foreign debt be cancelled. He claimed that Kuwait was a fabricated state established by Western colonialists. He attempted to leverage Iraq’s position by turning it into an issue against Israel, making the latter's removal from the occupied territories a prerequisite for the former’s departure from Kuwait. This could lead to Arab unity to Iraq's advantage. However, Israel did not take part in the war. Following the US-led coalition's Operation Desert Storm, which involved 35 countries, Iraq acknowledged Kuwait's sovereignty and eventually had to withdraw.

The 2003 Iraq War served as the final straw that forced the world to bring down Saddam Hussein. He was left in charge of the nation following his defeat in the Gulf War, subject to several sanctions. These included the imposition of inspections for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and the creation of a no-fly zone shortly following the hostilities, primarily to protect the Kurds in the north and the Shiites in the south. On the contrary—his antipathy against the Kurds intensified. Ultimately, in 2003, the Bush administration in the US issued a dire warning to Hussein, requiring him to resign within 48 hours. Upon rejection by Hussein, the US launched operation Iraqi Freedom and invaded Iraq without the UN sanction on the grounds of suspicion of WMDs, and on 13 December, they seized Hussein.

On 30 December 2006, he was put to death. 

About the author
Nandini Khandelwal is a postgraduate student at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University.


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NATO Summit 2025 and Russia-Mali bilateral agreements
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1733

Ananya Dinesh

China and the Pacific Islands 
What was the recent China-PIC joint statement about? What it says, and what it means?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1728

M Kejia

G7 Summit 2025:
The Focus on the Middle East and Trade negotiations
The World This Week
June 2025 | CWA # 1726

GP Team

The World This Week #316
China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, and the G7 Summit in Canada
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1725

Brighty Ann Sarah, R Preetha, Santhiya M, Aparna A Nair & M Kejia

Operation Midnight Hammer: US bombs three nuclear sites in Iran
What were the three Iranian nuclear sites that were targeted? What are the B2 Bombers and Bunker Buster Bombs? What do these attacks mean? What Next?
Conflict Weekly
June 2025 | CWA # 1724

IPRI Team

Conflict Weekly #286
The Spiralling Israel-Iran Crisis, and the Dangerous Hunger Hotspots
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1721

Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

Who are the Afrikaners?
Why is Trump interested in the Afrikaner question in South Africa?
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1720

Lekshmi MK

New WMO Report on Arctic Warming
What are the social, economic and environmental implications of Arctic warming
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1719

J Yamini  

China’s EV Surge
What contributes to the rise of BYD
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1717

J Yamini

Gender Violence in Pakistan:
What are the larger issues in the Noor Mukadam case?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1715

Femy Francis

The US-China:
On Tariffs, Rare Earths and Visas
The World This Week
June 2025 | CWA # 1713

GP Team

The World This Week #315
The UN Ocean Conference in France and the US-China Meeting in London
CW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1712

R Preetha

The World This Week
June 2025 | CWA # 1705

GP Team

The World This Week #314
Elections in South Korea and Poland I China and the Pacific Island Countries I Bangladesh Election Announcement 2026
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1703

M Kejia 

Sagarmatha Sambaad in Nepal
Kathmandu’s Global Agenda for the Himalayas
Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1700

R Preetha

Ethiopia bans the TPLF
What does the TPLF ban mean for the Pretoria agreement? What next for Ethiopia?
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
Harvard vs Trump Administration
The World This Week
June 2025 | CWA # 1691

GP Team

The World This Week #313
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit I President Macron's visit to South East Asia I Trump Vs Harvard
The World This Week
May 2025 | CWA # 1690

GP Team

The World This Week #312
Elections in Romania, Portugal & Poland I UK-EU Summit
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
Continuing Russia’s Aerial Attacks, despite exchange of prisoners
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis and Israel’s Renewed Offensive
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1685

Aparna A Nair

UK-EU Summit:
First step towards a reset
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1683

Aashish Ganeshan

Elections in Portugal:
The Rise of Chega Party and the Search for Political Stability
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1679

Aashish Ganeshan

US in the Middle Easr
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1678

Gauri Gupta

China in Latin America
China-CELAC forum: Strengthening ties with Latin America and Caribbean
The World This Week
May 2025 | CWA # 1677

GP Team

The World This Week #310-311
China in Latin America and the Carribbean I Trump's Middle East Visit I Denmark as the new Arctic Chair
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
PKK disbands after 40 years of armed insurgency
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
The Discussion in Turkiye and the Elusive Ceasefire
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1671

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

US, Ukraine and Russia:
Air attacks amidst a Minerals deal and Ceasefire Proposals
Global Politics Early Bird
May 2025 | CWA # 1670

Fleur Elizabeth Philip

Singapore Elections in 2025:
People’s Action Party (PAP) Wins, Again
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
Tough Tariff Negotiations with the US
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1666

Padmashree Anandhan

The US-Ukraine
The mineral deal with the US
Conflict Weekly
May 2025 | CWA # 1665
Conflict Weekly # 280-81
India-Pakistan De-escalation I Ukraine Discussion in Istanbul I The Battle over Port Sudan I Disbanding of PKK in Turkiye I France-Algeria Diplomatic Tensions
Global Politics Early Bird
May 2025 | CWA # 1663

R Preetha

Canada Elections 2025:
What do the results convey? What next for Mark Carney?
Conflict Weekly 250th Issue
October 2024 | CWA # 1480

IPRI Team

This Week in History
July 2024 | CWA # 1413

Ramya B

Global Politics Early Bird
May 2024 | CWA # 1336

Femy Francis

This Week in History
April 2024 | CWA # 1275

Ramya B

NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
This Week in History
March 2024 | CWA # 1246

Sivasubramanian K

NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Week
November 2023 | CWA # 1148

GP Team

The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
NIAS Pakistan Weekly
October 2023 | CWA # 1087

PR Team

The World This Week
October 2023 | CWA # 1083

GP Team

Conflict Weekly
August 2023 | CWA # 1049

IPRI Team

IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
The World This Week
July 2023 | CWA # 1009

GP Team

2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 872

Sapna Elsa Abraham

Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
GLOBAL PROTEST MOVEMENTS
September 2020 | CWA # 337

Anju Annie Mammen

The FATF Meeting, February 2020
February 2020 | CWA # 235

Lakshmi V Menon

Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer

Afghanistan
United States
July 2018 | CWA # 47

Rahul Arockiaraj

East Asia
June 2018 | CWA # 26

Siddhatti Mehta