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IRAQ The Iraqi Revolution of 1958: A Revolutionary Quest for Unity and Security, by Juan Romero. Lanham, MD and Plymouth, UK: University Press of America, 2011. 240 pages. $36.99 paper.
Juan Romero presents a detailed study of the Iraqi revolution of 1958, addressing the developments that led to it, the events that unfolded in its course, and the immediate impact it had on the politics and societies of Iraq and the broader region. In the light of recent events in the Arab world, Romero's approach to explore what distinguished the events of the revolution from a mere military coup is quite pertinent.
While the author delves into every detail of diplomatic conversations of the period, he is at the same time careful not to miss any possible vantage point to shed light on the events of 1958 in their socioeconomic, political, but also biographical dimensions. In addition, he identifies how dominant players in Middle Eastern politics saw the revolution as a major turning point, including the points of view of the foreign policy establishments of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union. The downside of this detailed approach is the lack of a clear narrative line that would...