--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was…" description: "\"The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part on admiration for European National Socialist and Fascist movements, hoped to emulate them e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg" --- # The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part… ![“The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part on admiration for European National Socialist and Fascist movements, hoped to emulate them especially in their nationalism against the West. But mutated by Saddam Hussein it became also one that very, very much admired, and grew a special…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg) > “The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part on admiration for European National Socialist and Fascist movements, hoped to emulate them especially in their nationalism against the West. But mutated by Saddam Hussein it became also one that very, very much admired, and grew a special moustache in admiration of the work of Yosif Vissarionovitch Dzugashvili, the great Georgian known to us historically as Stalin. So you had him in modern Iraq, a regime in our own time, that was openly, directly modelled upon the two most extreme examples of European totalitarianism.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes Iraq's Baath Party as modeled on European fascism, later mutated under Saddam, noting its extreme authoritarianism. **In simple terms:** Iraq's regime copied fascist models, becoming uniquely brutal. Key Takeaway Recognize how extremist ideologies adapt. Themes history politics authoritarianism Mood critical analytical Type historical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - education - public discourse Key Concepts totalitarianism ideological borrowing Questions to Reflect On - What drives regimes to adopt foreign extremist models? - How does local culture reshape imported ideologies? A Different Perspective Complex motives and local contexts can alter imported ideologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Baath Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baath-socialist-5985537/) [Emulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulate/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Fascists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascists/) [Georgians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/georgians/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Historically Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historically-stalin-5985536/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-regime-5279935/) [Iraqi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqi/) [Iraqi Baath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqi-baath-5985535/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Moustache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moustache/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regimes/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialist/) [Socialist party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialist-party/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarianism/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) ## Related quotes > [If we invade Iraq and the regime is very close to falling, I'm very, very concerned that the Iraqis will, in fact, use weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/if-we-invade-iraq-and-the-regime-is-very-close-to-falling-i-m-very/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [“The Iraqi regime has used diplomacy as a ploy to gain time and advantage. It has uniformly defied Security Council resolutions demanding full disarmament.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-iraqi-regime-has-used-diplomacy-as-a-ploy-to-gain-time-and/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In general, if signs of sectarianism do appear in a Socialist Party, these are only the products of the absence of a broad Labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-radek/in-general-if-signs-of-sectarianism-do-appear-in-a-socialist-party/) [Karl Radek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-radek/) > [I would say that today the real support for State power and totalitarianism comes from the Communist parties and the Socialist parties and, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-would-say-that-today-the-real-support-for-state-power-and/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Of all the sights and sounds which attracted me on my first arrival to live in London in the mid-thirties, one combined operation left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/of-all-the-sights-and-sounds-which-attracted-me-on-my-first-arrival/) [Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/) > [Since in every European country between 1870 and 1914 there was a war party demanding armaments, an individualist party demanding ruthless competition, an imperialist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/since-in-every-european-country-between-1870-and-1914-there-was-a-war/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The National Socialist Party in Austria never tried to hide its inclination for a greater Germany. That Austria would one day return to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-seyss-inquart/the-national-socialist-party-in-austria-never-tried-to-hide-its/) [Arthur Seyss-Inquart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-seyss-inquart/) > [The Socialist Party will no longer be running a candidate for president. The Democratic Party is leading this country to Socialism much faster than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/the-socialist-party-will-no-longer-be-running-a-candidate-for/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [Now back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/now-back-in-1927-an-american-socialist-norman-thomas-six-times/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I have the greatest sympathy with the growth of the socialist party. I think they understand the evils that surround us and hammer them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-the-greatest-sympathy-with-the-growth-of-the-socialist-party-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it's been time for a new party. I think it's time for two new parties. If you watch the Democratic convention, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-think-it-s-been-time-for-a-new-party-i-think-it-s-time-for-two-new/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [The main priority of the Socialist Party is education".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/the-main-priority-of-the-socialist-party-is-education/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [Bernie Sanders is like those liberal members of the German National Socialist Party during the WWII, or of the Italian Fascist movement during Mussolini.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/bernie-sanders-is-like-those-liberal-members-of-the-german-national/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [My whole life so far, my whole experience has been that our failure has been not to love enough. This conviction brought me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/my-whole-life-so-far-my-whole-experience-has-been-that-our-failure/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Admiration quotes > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [“There have been those among us who have been so dazzled by the might and technological wizardy of Europe that they have been rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/there-have-been-those-among-us-who-have-been-so-dazzled-by-the-might/) [Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you’ve established trust does your strength become a gift rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/a-warm-trustworthy-person-who-is-also-strong-elicits-admiration-but/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) > [Admittedly great though these reasons be, they are not the principal grounds, that is, those which may rightfully claim for themselves the privilege of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/admittedly-great-though-these-reasons-be-they-are-not-the-principal/) [Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/) > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) [Browse all 1,179 Admiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part on admiration for European National Socialist and Fascist movements, hoped to emulate them especially in their nationalism against the West. But mutated by Saddam Hussein it became also one that very, very much admired, and grew a special moustache in admiration of the work of Yosif Vissarionovitch Dzugashvili, the great Georgian known to us historically as Stalin. So you had him in modern Iraq, a regime in our own time, that was openly, directly modelled upon the two most extreme examples of European totalitarianism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-modelled-in-large-part-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-modelled-in-large-part-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1d/christopher-hitchens-117_admiration_the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-mode_3208451.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was modelled in large part on admiration for European National Socialist and…” — Christopher Hitchens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Iraqi Baath Socialist Party was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-modelled-in-large-part-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-iraqi-baath-socialist-party-was-modelled-in-large-part-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```