Analysis of the Impact of Oil on the Political Structure of Iraq in the Framework of the Rentier State Theory

Abstract

Iraq is a sensitive and geopolitical region in the Middle East from a civilizational point of view, oil, as the most important source of income for the Iraqi government, which provides more than 90% of the annual budget of the government, and this had a wide impact on the political, economic, and social structure of this country. The government's dependence on oil rents led to the formation of a kind of political system based on the concentration of power, the weakening of institutions, The decline in public participation in decision-making and the spread of corruption have become structured. This article, relying on the theory of the rentier state, analyzes the role of oil in the formation and evolution of Iraq's political structure in different periods, from the era of colonial domination and the establishment of oil companies, to the nationalization of the oil industry, regional wars, economic sanctions, and changes after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The research method is descriptive-analytical and historical data are from library sources and official reports and scientific documents have been collected. In this study, 10 important Iraqi oil contracts (including those related to British Petroleum, Total, ExxonMobil and China have been examined. The results of the research show that oil has not only become a tool for strengthening authoritarian governments and strengthening the security structure, but has also deepened ethnic and religious divisions and competition between the central government and semi-autonomous regions. Also, oil contracts and cooperation with international companies have changed the balance of political power within the country. The oil-related legal, economic, and administrative system can lead to continued political instability in Iraq.