|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/international/20030422faessayv82n3_dawisha.html
How to Build a Democratic Iraq
(Foreign Affairs/New York Times) - Adeed and Karen Dawisha Despite Saddam's long repression, democratic institutions are not entirely alien to the country. Under the Hashemite monarchy, which ruled from 1921 until 1958, Iraq adopted a parliamentary system modeled on that of the United Kingdom. Political parties existed, even in the opposition, and dissent and disagreement were generally tolerated. Prior to the 1958 revolution that toppled the monarchy, 23 independent newspapers were published in Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra alone.