Foreign aid to Iraq: donors promises and political elites compromise

 
PIIS032150750008722-6-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750008722-6
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: Post-Graduate Student, Moscow State Institute of International Relations MFA of Russia
Affiliation: Moscow State Institute of International Relations MFA of Russia
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 3
Pages59-64
Abstract

Post-conflict reconstruction and creation of favorable conditions for attracting foreign aid have gained particular relevance in Iraq following the defeat of the “Islamic State” (IS). The results of the International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq, which was held in Kuwait in February 2018, were contradictory. Most foreign aid projects and sums were pledged in a form of investments and loans. Foreign aid, on the one hand, has a positive effect on the situation in the country in terms of population support, but on the other hand has a number of negative effects. So, in conditions of external assistance, the ruling elite becomes dependent on it and preserves the situation. Elites do not solve problems and stop pushing for real development of institutions. At the same time, the elite itself is fighting for the distribution and management of this external assistance, which gives rise to the tensions within the Iraqi ruling class. Nevertheless, in the absence of external assistance and the need to receive it and get those funds coming to the country, in general, other processes take place. Despite deep differences, the factor of the need to obtain external funds also contributed to the finding a compromise among the Iraqi ruling elites, as it happened, for example, in the context of the formation of a new government in 2018.

Nevertheless, the problems of ensuring security, political instability, corruption and inefficiency of state institutions negatively affect the attraction of international assistance. Recognizing the existence of complex interdependencies between the development of the domestic political situation, which depends on the behavior of the political elite, and foreign aid to states weakened by armed conflict, this study aims to analyze the specifics of the mutual influence of these factors in Iraq after the victory over IS.

KeywordsIS, Iraq, foreign aid, political elites, reconstruction
Received30.03.2020
Publication date30.03.2020
Number of characters23200
Cite  
100 rub.
When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 825

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Iraq. Reconstruction and investment. Part 2. Assessing the damage and needs of the affected governorates. World Bank. (In Arab.). http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/160691520000589687/pdf/123631-v2-ARABIC-OUO-9-Part-2-Arabic.pdf (accessed 05.02.2019)

2. Donors pledge $30 bn for Iraq reconstruction at Kuwait conference. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/20180214-donors-pledge-30-bn-iraq-reconstruction-kuwait-conference (accessed 09.07.2019)

3. The EU and Iraq Factsheet. European External Action Service. https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eu_and_iraq_factsheet_updated_.pdf (accessed 09.08.2019)

4. Woods N. 2005. The shifting politics of foreign aid. International Affairs. Vol. 81, № 2, pp. 393-409.

5. Council of the EU conclusions on Iraq. Foreign Affairs Council. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/32406/st05285en18.pdf (accessed 10.08.2019)

6. Mosaki N.Z., Pirbari D.V. 2019. The Death of Mir Tahsin Beg and the Future of the Yezidi Community. Asia and Africa today. Moscow (In Russ.)

7. EU aid not reaching Yazidi in northern Iraq, says NGO. EUobserver. https://euobserver.com/migration/142272 (accessed 20.07.2019)

8. Envoy: China to participate in Iraq reconstruction. China Daily. https://www.chinadailyhk.com/articles/192/238/105/1518671884430.html (accessed 20.07.2019)

9. Iraq, China launch ‘oil for reconstruction’ agreement. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/10/iraq-china-india-oil-construction.html (accessed 24.06.2019)

10. Dvorkovich noted the contribution of Russian business in the reconstruction of Iraq. RIA Novosti. 14.02.2019 (In Russ.). https://ria.ru/20180214/1514607439.html (accessed 20.03.2019)

11. “Full Coincidence of Views”. Russian and Iraqi Foreign Ministers discuss the Middle East issues. ITAR-TASS. 30.01.2019 (In Russ.). https://tass.ru/politika/6061016 (accessed 26.08.2019)

12. Katona V., Mamedov R. 2019. Russia’s Interests in the Arab Mashreq: Analyzing the Future of Oil and Gas in Iraq and Syria. Russian International Affairs Council. Moscow.

13. Conference for Iraq draws investors instead of donors. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/02/kuwait-iraq-reconstruction-investment.html (accessed 23.07.2019)

14. A year after Kuwait conference, Iraq is no closer to reconstruction. ArabWeekly. https://thearabweekly.com/year-after-kuwait-conference-iraq-no-closer-reconstruction (accessed 23.07.2019)

15. The Parliament of Iraq approved the Ministers of the Interior, Defense and Justice. RIA Novosti. 24.06.2019 (In Russ.). https://ria.ru/20190624/1555856140.html (accessed 25.08.2019)

16. Iraq resolves the issue of power. Kommersant (In Russ.). https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3759641 (accessed 29.08.2019)

17. Baghdad met unemployment with hostility. RBC (In Russ.). https://www.rbc.ru/newspaper/2019/10/08/5d9afca49a79471a42725093 (accessed 29.08.2019)

18. Iraqi PM Abdul-Mahdi refuses to resign over deadly protests. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1575161/middle-east (accessed 30.08.2019)

19. UN: Sistani Concerned Politicians Not Serious Enough on Reforms. Al-Awsat. https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1986566/un-sistani-concerned-politicians-not-serious-enough-reforms (accessed 13.11.2019)

20. Yiew T.H., Lau E. 2018. Does Foreign Aid Contributes to or Impeded Economic Growth. Journal of International Studies. Vol. 11, № 3, pp. 21-30.

21. Bartenev V.I. 2018. Foreign Aid and the Quality of Governance: Liberation from Illusions. Polis. Political Science. Moscow (In Russ.)

22. In Iraq, more than 100 people died in a week of protests. How the country’s economy provoked a «revolution of hunger». RBC (In Russ.). https://www.rbc.ru/politics/07/10/2019/5d9afca49a79471a42725093 (accessed 23.10.2019)

23. Iraq Economic Monitor: From War to Reconstruction and Economic Recovery. World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/771451524124058858/pdf/125406-WP-PUBLIC-P163016-Iraq-Economic-M onitor-text-Spring-2018-4-18-18web.pdf (accessed 23.10.2019)

24. How has the Syrian war affected the Iraqi economy? Vesti. Economics (In Russ.). https://www.vestifinance.ru/articles/113888 (accessed 25.10.2019)

Система Orphus

Loading...
Up