Iraq's Development Road Project Amid Political Instability, Economic and Security Challenges

Abstract

Iraq has been involved in battles and wars for years and has become an arena for both regional ambitions and conflicts. The current study aims to investigate Iraq’s internal challenges and their implications for the development road project, which seeks to transform the country into a transit zone for trade between Asia and Europe. For this purpose, descriptive-analytical approaches based on secondary sources were employed to examine the impact of these challenges on the project. In addition, this study utilized Patron-Client Politics theory to analyze how political instability, security and economic challenges, and widespread corruption affect the project’s progress and implementation.

The findings provide evidence that rivalry among political elites over resources and power, which undermines the decision-making process regarding the project, the spread of corruption, Iraq’s dependency on oil, and the control of armed militias have significantly hindered the project. Moreover, the study highlights the influence of the armed groups such as; the Popular Mobilization Forces, together with Iraq’s heavy reliance on oil revenues, remain critical obstacles to achieving stability. Further research might explore the positions of regional actors such as Türkiye, the GCC countries, and Iran, and their role in influencing the long-term success and sustainability of the development road project.