Abstract:
The issuance of socialist nationalization laws on July 14, 1964, reshaped Iraq’s economic, social, and political landscape, transitioning it from capitalism toward socialism. This monumental shift altered the economic structure, empowering the public sector while centralizing state control over the economy. Although aimed at rectifying injustices and granting long-denied rights to citizens, implementation faced challenges and created unforeseen burdens.
This dissertation examines the multifaceted effects of these laws, analyzing their economic impact on production, profits, and investment expansion, evaluating whether the intended economic development was achieved or if it inadvertently spurred capital smuggling and hindered private sector growth. Furthermore, it investigates the laws’ influence on social dynamics, particularly on the working class, exploring the benefits gained and the repercussions faced by affected social groups. Additionally, the study delves into the political context, assessing whether the laws’ primary goal of achieving unity with the United Arab Republic was realized and analyzing the domestic and international responses to these legal shifts.
The dissertation comprises an introduction, preface, three chapters, conclusion, and appendices. Chapters delineate the economic, social, and political impacts, dissecting effects on public and private sectors, the working class, bourgeois class, and the pursuit of political unity. Richly informed by diverse sources—unpublished documents, published works, academic papers, periodicals, and archival materials—the research delivers an insightful analysis of the enduring repercussions of the socialist nationalization laws on Iraqi society.
