State of Iraq

The term State of Iraq was Iraq's "official name" November 11, 1920, in accord with the League of Nations Mandate under Britain and was known as the "Iraqi Kingdom", August 23, 1921. 

According to Nathan J. Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University:


 * "Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958, the name was changed to the 'Republic of Iraq' (or, more literally, the 'Iraqi Republic')," Brown writes.


 * "At some point last year, the older name--the State of Iraq--was restored." Brown says that he does not "know precisely who did this and why, but it seems to have been done" by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) "some time last year."


 * Brown informs that "CPA legal documents are now issued for the 'State of Iraq'. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511 (passed October 16, 2003) uses the restored term, and the "Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period" (TAL)" was signed in March 2004 but was named (as far as Brown can tell) "for the first time in November 2003."


 * "However," Brown adds, "some internal Iraqi documents still refer to it as a republic."


 * "Since," he says, "the current Iraqi political order could hardly be described as a republic, there is some honesty in the new title. But it seems odd that an interim administration would feel comfortable changing the name of the country."

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs web page for Iraq (dated October 2003) states that "Republic of Iraq" is the "official name" for Iraq.


 * Also see Iraqi Transitional Government.

SourceWatch Resources

 * Agreement on Political Process
 * Iraqi census
 * Iraqi Governing Council
 * Iraqi national elections
 * Iraqi sovereignty: June 30, 2004
 * John D. Negroponte
 * New Iraq
 * Post-war Iraq
 * US Mission in Iraq