Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003, during which time he developed a reputation for enforcing one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships. His regime was responsible for countless massacres, which targeted Kurds, Shia Muslims and opponents of the Ba’ath Party, among others. In just 50 minutes, you will find out about the events that led to his rise to power and discover the ways that the Middle East was affected by his dictatorship.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, including the Iran-Iraq War, the invasion of Kuwait and Operation Desert Storm. It also features a full biography, a valuable introduction to the political, social and economic context and an evaluation of the impact of his dictatorship, giving you all the essential information about this notorious warmonger.

About Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein is arguably one of the most infamous dictators of the late 20^th century. He came to power in Iraq in 1979, a time when Iraq was considered one of the most advanced countries in the Middle East. However, his regime soon gained a reputation for brutally repressing all political opposition, while a series of wars left Iraq impoverished, weakened and politically isolated, particularly after UN sanctions were imposed on the country following the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein was deposed by American and British forces in 2003 due to suspicions that he had ties with al-Qaeda, the terrorist organisation responsible for the attacks in New York on 11 September 2001, and that Iraq was illegally harbouring weapons of mass destruction.

This clear and accessible 84-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to Saddam Hussein
• Biography of Saddam Hussein
  • Involvement in the Ba’ath Party
  • Seizing power
  • The rise and fall of the dictator
  • The final hours
• Political, social and economic context
  • The Iraqi Republic under General Qasim (1958-1963)
  • The Iraqi Republic under the Arif brothers (1963-1968)
  • Ba’athist Iraq under General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr (1968-1979)
  • The Iranian Revolution (1977-1979)
• Key moments
  • Life in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship
  • The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1989)
  • The Gulf War (1990-1991)
• Saddam Hussein’s political, social and historical impact
  • A country plunged into chaos
  • The emergence of the Islamic State (Daesh)
• Summary