Understanding Corruption in Iraq

Abstract

Thirteen years ago the US invaded Iraq and brought down the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. While Iraqis have many grievances with the new political elite, pervasive corruption has been a primary focus of public dissatisfaction. Corruption in Iraq is not a new phenomenon; however, since the 2003 US invasion, it has grown in magnitude and has become much more pronounced. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an understanding of corruption in Iraq by drawing on literatures from various academic fields. This work demonstrates that throughout modern Iraqi history the desire to maintain political power has encouraged the use of corrupt practices. Political regimes have been able to consolidate power by appropriating Iraq’s oil wealth to the detriment of state development. This work also highlights the need to broaden the current understanding of corruption in Iraq in order to effectively resolve the problem. Overall, this research can be used to understand why corruption has persisted overtime and how difficult it will be to overcome government corruption.