Rise and Fall of the Renaissance Party: Implications of De- Ba'athification on Iraqi Society

摘要

The Ba'athist movement took root in the ruins of the Ottoman Empire inspired by the Pan-Arab anti-colonial vision of Syrian intellectuals. It gradually seeped into the political chaos that engulfed the new nation of Iraq and found favor with the secular views of a small group of military officers and bureaucrats. These Ba'athist seized power in a 1968 coup and under the leadership of Saddam Hussein began a rule of terror that encompassed nearly 35 years. The clash of American and Iraqi national interests resulted in a prolonged conflict that would ultimately be decided by a series of wars. The Bush administration's decision to pursue a policy of regime change led to discussions on how to conduct the post-war occupation and reconstruction efforts. Some believed that military success would provide the opportunity to export democratic ideals to the troubled Middle East. Inherent in this change was a policy that would purge Iraqi society of the scourge of Saddam through the process of de-Ba'athification. This paper examines the effectiveness of de- Ba'athiflcation measures and how they influence efforts to establish a stable and democratic Iraq.