Natural resources in Iraq and their impact on the power of the state - a study in political geography)

Abstract

Iraq possesses significant natural resources (minerals, water, and agricultural land), particularly its reserves and exploited resources. It has more than 23 metallic and non-metallic minerals. However, most of these resources remain undiscovered and have not been utilized in a way that would allow their potential to serve the state and its political and economic strength. Despite possessing these resources, Iraq continues to face significant challenges in confronting military, economic, and even political obstacles. This has resulted in the failure to leverage these resources for political and economic development and to learn from the experiences of other countries. It is well-established that, according to the concept of geopolitics, a state's power is based on its available resources and their use for political development and economic growth to achieve sustainable strength for the state's structure. However, Iraq's natural resources have not significantly enhanced its power; they remain largely utilized to meet the daily needs of citizens and other state requirements. In other words, these resources have not been used as leverage to gain new advantages regionally and globally, nor have they been invested in developing the country's military and economic capabilities. Iraq, as a nation, has not benefited much from the experiences of other countries in developing its infrastructure and strengthening its diversified economy due to administrative bureaucracy. This is because it remains among the developing countries that rely more on their own resources than on learning from the experiences of others or utilizing their domestic resources.