Legacy Abd al-Karim Qasim

1 legacy

1.1 land reform
1.2 women s rights
1.3 social reform

legacy

the 1958 revolution can considered watershed in iraqi politics, not because of obvious political implications (e.g. abolition of monarchy, republicanism, , paving way ba’athist rule) because of domestic reforms. despite shortcomings, qasim’s rule helped implement number of positive domestic changes benefited iraqi society.

land reform

the revolution brought sweeping changes in iraqi agrarian sector. reformers dismantled old feudal structure of rural iraq. example, 1933 law of rights , duties of cultivators , tribal disputes code replaced, benefiting iraq’s peasant population , ensuring fairer process of law. agrarian reform law (30 september 1958) attempted large-scale redistribution of landholdings , placed ceilings on ground rents; land more evenly distributed among peasants who, due new rent laws, received around 55% 70% of crop. despite positive intentions of agrarian reform law, implementation proved relatively unsuccessful due disagreements between lower classes , landed middle classes, time consuming implementation process.

women s rights

qasim attempted bring greater equality women in iraq. in december 1959 promulgated significant revision of personal status code, particularly regulating family relations. polygamy outlawed, , minimum ages marriage set out, 18 being minimum age (except special dispensation when lowered court 16). women protected arbitrary divorce. revolutionary reform provision in article 74 giving women equal rights in matters of inheritance. laws applied sunni , shi’a alike. laws encountered opposition , did not survive qasim’s government.

social reform

education expanded under qasim regime. education budget raised approximately 13 million dinars in 1958 24 million dinars in 1960 , school enrolments increased. attempts made in 1959 , 1961 introduce economic planning benefit social welfare; investing in housing, healthcare , education, whilst reforming agrarian iraqi economy along industrial model. however, these changes not implemented before qasim’s removal.

qasim responsible nationalisation of iraqi oil industry. public law 80 dispossessed ipc of 99.5% of concession territory in iraq , placed in hands of newly formed iraq national oil company taking many of iraq’s oilfields out of foreign hands.