Jama at Al-Ahali : its origin, ideology and role in Iraqi politics 1932-1946.

Abstract

This thesis is a study of a political movement which has had a profound influence on the development of modern Iraqi politics The study has attempted to investigate the historical and ideological origins of Jama'at al-Ahali and Its political philosophy, to assess its role in Iraqi opposition politics and its contribution to the national movement as a whole This has involved a general survey of political and socio-economic developments in late nineteenth and twentieth century Iraq, as well as a more detailed discussion of events in the 1930s and 1940s Various aspects of the ideology of the group, and its reactions to the deficiencies of the prevailing political system have been related to the particular circumstances of the period The thesis has been divided into three parts Part I deals with the general background of Iraqi history until the beginning of the period of research, and the formation and ideological origins of Jama'at al-Ahali Part II deals more specifically with events in the 1930s and 1940s, while Part III deals with the role of Jama'at al-Ahali between 1932 and 1946 Thus Chapter II describes the political and socio-economic development of Iraq from the end of the nineteenth century until 1946, while Chapterni deals with the formation and nature of political parties in general, with special emphasis on the opposition bloc and the position and function of Jama'at al-Ahali within it. Chapter iv, which ends the first part, is divided into four sections The first describes the activities of the founders of the group, while still at school and university in Baghdad and Beirut, the second discusses the main ideological influences on the group, the third outlines its formal foundation and the publication of al-Ahali newspaper in January 1932,and the final section analyses the group's ideology, al-Sha'biyaPart II consists of Chapters V, VI and VII which set the scene for the 1930s and 1940s with special reference to various major events of the period These events affected either the political system as a whole, or involved Jama'at al-Ahali to a greater or lesser extent Finally, Part III, which is divided into four chronological Chapters (VIII - XI) followed by a Conclusion, traces the different stages in the development and activities of the group over the whole period.