كلمة علي الأعسم بمناسبة إصدار النسخة الانكليزية لكتاب المشترك للراحل إبراهيم علاوي

لترجمة النص الى العربية إضغط على أيقونة «العالم» أعلاه.

Speech by Ali Al-Assam at the launch of the English Edition of Al-Mushtarak book by the late Ibrahim Allawi, published by Iskra Books. The launch was held at Marx memorial library on 21 August 2024.

Welcome

It’s truly wonderful to gather here with family, friends, and colleagues—a diverse, yet united group from the progressive left. I’m particularly honoured to welcome old comrades of Ibrahim Allawi, who, for decades, fought against fascism in Iraq, faced imprisonment, and risked their lives. We are proud to have you here with us.

Here we have the book, the Arabic original in 1983 with logo design by Renowned Iraqi calligrapher the late Mohammad Al-Saggar. And the English Edition after 1.5 years work using painting by the renowned Iraqi and International painter Dia Al-Azzawi.

While there’s much to say about the book, its author Ibrahim Allawi, and the history of the communist movement linked to it, we have limited time. However, Majed Allawi and I will strive to cover the key points, with further insights available in the Al-Mushtarak book itself. Faruk Mustafa Rasool who was a close comrade of Ibrahim since 1959 will also give us a brief insight in this meeting. Hani will talk briefly about Ibrahim’s consultation process in developing the ideas in the book.

Prof. Kamal Majeed and Mustafa Chouresh will elaborate more at Palestine House.

I’ll begin by talking about Ibrahim Allawi, providing the historical context, and highlighting key points from the book. My colleague Majed Allawi will delve deeper into the history of the communist movement in Iraq and Ibrahim Allawi’s theoretical approach.

About Ibrahim Allawi

Ibrahim was born in Qalat Sakar-Iraq قلعة سكر in 1933. He was educated in Baghdad and later earned his Architecture degree in the UK before returning to Iraq to continue his political work in the Iraqi communist party. Ibrahim was not only a revolutionary communist leader but also a great Marxist thinker and prolific writer. His notable publications include:

• On the 14 July 1958 Revolution (Published by a US publisher at the age of 25)

• The Oil Question (1964)

• Berlin Baghdad - The Barter (1990)

• Editorials of Al-Ghad (1970s and 1980s)

• History and Planning of Islamic Cities and Baghdad in particular (Ph.D. thesis, Sorbonne, 1981)

• The Conflict within the Iraqi Communist Party and Issues of Disagreement within the Global Communist Movement (1980)

• Al-Mushtarak (1983)

The Historical Context for Mushtarak

As Majed Allawi will detail, the Iraqi Communist Party, founded by Yousif Salman Fahad, grew to become one of the largest in Asia by 1959 (My participation in demo). However, after reaching its peak, the party faced a period of decline that continued until the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. This decline, both in Iraq and the global socialist movement, forms the backdrop against which Ibrahim began writing Al-Mushtarak in 1979.

A significant setback occurred in 1959 when the party’s leadership, under Soviet influence, decided against seizing power despite its widespread popular support and control over Iraq’s military. This decision followed sending, ‘for re-education’, party leaders Salam Adil and Jamal Haidari in Moscow. The Soviet Union, particularly under Khrushchev, feared that a communist takeover in Iraq would destabilize its relations with the West during the Cold War.

In contrast to the Soviet Union’s cautious stance, as Ibrahim covered well in his 1990 book (Berlin Baghdad the Barter) China took a more supportive approach towards the 14 July revolution. Ibrahim in his book cites a 1958 article from the Chinese newspaper Jenmin Jibao, which stated, *"China cannot stand idle in the face of American aggression in the Arab region. We want peace, but we do not fear war. If the imperialist aggressors lose their balance and insist on a test of strength, then everyone who rejects slavery must prepare the necessary measures. “According to the Chinese press at the time thousands of Chinese officers and soldiers volunteered to fight in Iraq after US landed its forces in Beirut in July 1958. * China’s strong stance and support for Iraq’s sovereignty made it popular among the Iraqi people and communists, in stark contrast to the Soviet Union’s reluctance. Ibrahim in his book says that this sympathy towards the communist party of China could have been another factor that led Khrushchev to be wary of a communist victory in Iraq.

This hesitation had dire consequences. Reactionary forces, including right-wing Arab nationalists and certain Kurdish factions, exploited the Communist Party’s reluctance, leading to the systematic targeting and assassination of communists. This culminated in the CIA-backed coup of 1963, resulting in the massacre of thousands of communists—a catastrophic blow to the movement in Iraq.

Ibrahim, along with comrades like Khalid Ahmad Zaki and Faruk Mustafa Rasool, formed the ‘Revolutionary Cadre’ faction right after the 1963 coup, critically assessed the failures within the Iraqi and international communist movements. They realized that the party’s inability to resist Soviet influence and its failure to understand Iraq’s unique socio-political conditions were major factors in its downfall.

In response, Ibrahim and his comrades joined the Central Command faction of the Communist Party in 1968 and then assuming leadership in it, engaging in armed struggle against Saddam Hussein’s fascist regime. Despite significant setbacks, including the collapse of the Kurdish revolution in 1975, Ibrahim continued his work, seeking Chinese support for renewed armed struggle, though this was ultimately declined, and in hindsight for good reasons.

Disappointed by the lack of external support, Ibrahim turned to intellectual pursuits, earning his Ph.D. in Islamic cities from the Sorbonne in 1981 and initiating the Mushtarak book project a year earlier. This project aimed to develop a new framework for democratic socialism, emphasizing cooperatives and economic self-reliance as the foundations of a sustainable socialist movement.

Ibrahim’s vision for Mushtarak included dismantling the traditional state apparatus and replacing it with democratic institutions rooted in the people, such as communes (Mushtarakat) and decentralized regional power structures. This forward-thinking approach prefigured some of the policies later adopted by the Chinese Communist Party in their market-socialist reforms.

The final chapter of Ibrahim’s book, “Mushtarak as an Essential Component of Democratic Socialism,” outlines a comprehensive program for implementing democratic socialism in Iraq and beyond. This chapter is especially relevant in contemporary discussions about socialism and democratic governance.

Thank You

My sincere gratitude goes to those who contributed to the publication of this book, including the editors and scholars who wrote forewords and endorsements and colleagues who helped proofread the translation, Haroun Hani Lazim.

Special Thanks to:

• Iskra Books and Editor David Peat: A great editor whose experience, care, and attention to detail greatly enhanced the book.

• Dia Al-Azzawi: The renowned Iraqi and international painter who contributed his remarkable artwork for the cover and interior.

• Keith Bennett and Professor Wolfe-Hunnicutt: For their reviews and Keith’s support and advice throughout the publication process.

• Professors Tarik Ismail and Mick McKeown: For their endorsements and support.

And to all comrades who helped with this event.

Final Notes

I believe that the significance of Al-Mushtarak extends beyond outlining the path to democratic socialism. It establishes a framework for people’s struggle against despotism, emphasizing the vital role of building people’s cooperative self-help institutions in political transformation. This vision by Ibrahim has been a central driver in my own work for the past 40 years.

Second Thought

I had the privilege of visiting China twice this year with my colleagues from Friends of Socialist China. Visiting party schools and engaging with Chinese comrades provided deep insights into the creative application of scientific Marxism by the Communist Party of China since the early days of Mao Zedong’s leadership 1921-1927. Much of this history is documented in the Concise History of the Communist Party of China. Chinese communist party history had much in common with the Iraqi communist history. Both parties started in regions with great histories and ancient civilizations, both have diversity of nationalities and religions where the founders of the two parties sought to use Marxism not only as a scientific tool for change but also to unite the people. Yet the outcome was tragically different for Iraq.

Let’s not forget that nearly one-fifth of humanity is participating in a bold and successful experiment in socialism. This is a great achievement for Humanity and a source for much optimism in the future.