The USSR and Iraq: The Soviet Quest for InfluenceIn The USSR and Iraq, the first major study of Soviet-Iraqi relations, Oles M. Smolansky examines the history of the relationship between these two countries during the past twenty years and attempts to dispel the misconception that the Soviet Union has enjoyed undue influence over Iraq. Drawing on ten years of research in Western, Arab, and Soviet sources, Smolansky analyzes the complex issues at the center of Soviet-Iraqi relations from 1968 through 1988, including the nationalization of the oil industry, the Kurdish question, the Iraqi Communist Party, the affairs of the Persian/Arabian Gulf, and, ultimately, the war between Iraq and Iran. Smolansky concludes that Iraq has never been under the dominant influence of Moscow, nor has it even been a loyal Soviet ally. In fact, Iraq has managed to reap major benefits from the relationship without losing its autonomy or sacrificing its major interests. The author discusses the Soviet Union and Iraq within the larger framework of the nature of influence relationships between great and small powers. |
Contents
SovietIraqi Relations 19581980 | 13 |
Nationalization of the Oil Industry | 37 |
The Kurdish Question | 63 |
The Iraqi Communist Party | 99 |
Problems of Security | 143 |
Problems of Security | 188 |
The IranIraq War | 230 |
The Lessons of the Soviet Quest | 280 |
Notes | 293 |
Bibliography | 333 |
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According addition Afghanistan agreement April Arab arms attempt August autonomy Ba'th party Ba'thist Baghdad Bahrain Bakr Brezhnev British conflict continued cooperation countries CPSU December Demchenko democratic diplomatic early economic efforts expressed favor February forces Foreign Minister Gromyko Gulf region imperialist important influence initial insisted interests Iran Iran-Iraq Iran's Iranian Iraq's Iraqi Communist party Iraqi government Islamic Republic issue January joint communiqué July June Khadduri Kremlin Kurdish Kurdish problem Kurdish question Kurdistan Kurds Kuwait late leaders major March ment Middle East military million Moscow Mulla Mustafa National Front naval negotiations North Rumailah November October official peace Persian Gulf Petroleum Company political position Pravda Primakov quoted in ARR quoted in ibid regime resolution Saddam Hussein Saudi Arabia September shah Soviet press Soviet Union Soviet-Iranian statement struggle Tariq Aziz Tehran territory Text in ibid tion treaty United USSR Washington World Marxist Review York