ABSTRACT
The Revolution of 1958 marked a fundamental turn in Iraqi politics. It saw the nation proceed from the Colonialism of the British and the hegemony of their installed Hashemite monarchy towards the emergence of a Post-Colonial Iraq. It also saw the emergence of various Post-Colonial political discourses which seemed to carry with them the promise of a new Iraq. This chapter addresses the events of the revolution and the important political schisms. It is critical to note that while Post-Colonial Iraq made many initial steps towards a more equitable and democratic life, most of this period is characterized by the ascension of a number of repressive regimes culminating in the rise of the Baath party and the self-elected presidency of Saddam Hussein. The chapter discusses that in the north the Kurds mounted a Rapareen while in the south the Shia launched a parallel Intifada of their own.
