The Arab Socialist Baath Party exists in a variety of Arab countries. In Frankenstein in Baghdad, the party is mentioned in the context of its decades-longs rule of Iraq (from 1968 to 2003) and refers in particular to Saddam Hussein’s Baathist dictatorship of Iraq. Although the Baath party in Iraq was initially dominated by Shiite Muslims, it later became Sunni-dominated—even though the majority of people in Iraq were Shiite Muslims. Although the Baath Party initially brought unprecedented economic growth to the country, Saddam Hussein also developed a repressive police and paramilitary system meant to crush his opponents. He was responsible for attacking Iran in 1980, thus launching the eight-year Iran-Iraq War. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 sought to put an end to Baath Party rule, and Saddam Hussein was tried and executed for crimes against humanity. The U.S. then launched a process of “de-Baathification” meant to remove all former Baath Party members from the new political system. In Frankenstein in Baghdad, Brigadier Majid—a former Baath Party member under Saddam Hussein’s rule—succeeds in avoiding these restrictions.
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Baath Party Term Timeline in Frankenstein in Baghdad
The timeline below shows where the term Baath Party appears in Frankenstein in Baghdad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: The Madwoman
...Hadi, whom she considers greedy and immoral. She curses them, along with Abu Zaidoun, the Baathist barber responsible for forcing her son, Daniel, to enroll in the army. Abu Zaidoun, however,...
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Chapter 5: The Body
Elishva shares all of these stories with her guest. She also describes Abu Zaidoun, a Baathist who would force people to join military service, and who physically dragged Daniel away. When...
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Chapter 6: Strange Events
...“the new Iraq.” Although Brigadier Majid had a high function in the army during the Baathist regime, he was able to avoid de-Baathification regulations and receive a special post. His goal...
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...to their allegiances: Saidi used to be an Islamist, while Brigadier Majid used to be Baathist. Mahmoud does not understand why Saidi made fun of his friend on the way back:...
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...a pair of scissors in his own shop. People in the neighborhood remember Abu Zaidoun’s Baathist convictions, which led him to force young men to join the war. Because of these...
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Chapter 11: The Investigation
...working as a journalist in the area. However, the Mantis accused Mahmoud of being a Baathist and threatened him personally. This ultimately forced Mahmoud to leave the province.
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