The Development of Iraqi Journalism from the British Occupation to the End of the Monarchical Era

Abstract

The study investigates the development of Iraqi journalism from the British Occupation, which started in 1914, to the End of the Monarchical Era in 1958. It focuses on the analysis of its role in the political and social life, and its relation to authority. It explores how journalism has shifted from an official platform, subject to authority, to a more efficient tool that shapes public opinion and helps direct political issues.

The study adopts the historical analytical method, by tracing the origin and development of Iraqi journalism through different stages, including the British occupation, the establishment of the Iraqi state, and then the monarchy, with analyzing its role in major political issues such as the 1920 revolution, the 1941 movement, the 1948 uprising, up to the fall of the monarchy in 1958.

The study maintains that Iraqi journalism played an important role in establishing political awareness. It contributes to conveying ideas, criticizing government policies, and supporting national movements. However, this role is constrained by some legal and political limitations that restrict its freedom. The study also reveals that the relationship between journalism and the authorities is characterized by both overlap and conflict; at times, journalism was a tool in the authorities' hands, and at others, a means of opposing them.     

The study concludes that the Iraqi journalism during the monarchy was a fundamental element in political life, and contributed, directly or indirectly, to paving the way for the major transformations that Iraq witnessed, making its study an important entry point for understanding the nature of the political system and the relationship between the state and society at that stage .