Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)

The Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction), also known as the Iraqi Ba'ath Party, was a Ba'athist political party with strong Arab nationalist and Arab socialist leanings. It emerged as one of two major factions resulting from the split within the original pan-Arab Ba'ath Party. The other prominent faction was the Syrian-dominated Ba'ath Party.

The Iraqi-dominated faction's ideology centered around the principles of Ba'athism, which advocated for the unification of the Arab world into a single nation-state, socialist economic policies, and Arab cultural revival. Under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi Ba'ath Party gained control of Iraq in 1968 and ruled until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Key characteristics of the Iraqi-dominated faction included:

• Arab Nationalism: A strong emphasis on Arab unity and opposition to foreign influence in the Arab world.

• Arab Socialism: State control of key industries and resources, coupled with social welfare programs.

• Secularism: A separation of religion and state, although the party often used religious rhetoric to bolster its legitimacy.

• Authoritarianism: A highly centralized and authoritarian political system, particularly under Saddam Hussein's rule.

Following the 2003 invasion, the Iraqi Ba'ath Party was officially outlawed, and its members were barred from holding public office. However, Ba'athist ideology and elements of the former regime continue to exert influence in some sectors of Iraqi society. The party’s legacy remains controversial, associated with both national development and human rights abuses.