Faisal’s Nomination for Kingship: Imperial Interests and Political Realignment in Iraq

Abstract

To conduct a historical analysis of British imperial interests in Iraq—and the broader Middle East—following the First World War, it is essential to examine the political, military, economic, and diplomatic dimensions of British strategy, due to Britain’s key role in shaping post-World War One Middle East. Central to this study is the perspective of senior British officials and how their strategic decisions, shaped by territorial, local, and international considerations, culminated in the selection of Faisal as the future King of Iraq at the 1921 Cairo Conference. While historians have explored Britain’s post-war policies in Iraq, much of the existing scholarship on the selection of Iraq’s monarchy tends to rely on incomplete narratives, often influenced by ideological, ethnic, or political biases. This study seeks to offer a more objective understanding of British decision-making by making extensive use of official British archives and government documents. Through this approach, it aims to clarify the rationale behind Faisal's nomination and to present a balanced assessment of British attitudes toward his kingship. This study is structured into three parts: first, The 1920 Arab rebellion and the formation of the Iraqi provisional government; second, the British view on Iraq’s royal candidacy during the Cairo Conference; and finally, the reasoning behind Faisal’s nomination as King of Iraq.