A Republican Turning Royalist? Saddam Husayn and the Dilemmas of Succession

Abstract

The issue of succession has forced itself upon the Iraqi scene in the last few years for three main reasons: President Saddam Husayn's policies aimed at preserving as much power as possible in the hands of his family and establishing the basis for hereditary rule; growing pressure from the USA, Britain and the Iraqi opposition in the diaspora, to bring about a change of regime in Iraq; and the ‘trend’ towards a generational change of leaders now under way throughout the region. All this has resulted in the flourishing of possible scenarios regarding post-Saddam Iraq. This article focuses on one aspect only — Husayn's own views, dilemmas and often contradictory actions connected with the issue of succession.