My research topic for the Middle East project is the role of oil in the country of Iraq, and my research question is: for Iraq, what are the positive and negative aspects of having such a large supply of oil in the country?
This is my introduction and conclusion for the Middle East project:
Research Introduction – Iraq’s Oil: God’s Gift or the Demon’s Curse?
Oil has always been the number one source of income for the country of Iraq. It brought wealth, value, significance, as well as supremacy to the country. Though despite all the blessings it provides the nation with, is it possible that there is a detrimental feature to it? Considering the war situation with the US that Iraq has faced, is oil a source of conflict instead of harmony for the Iraqis? The Venetian oil minister, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonso once alleged that oil may do more harm than good to countries. He said, “Oil is not black gold, but is the devil’s excrement. We are drowning in the devil’s excrement.” On the other hand, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman believed that “Iraq will have a huge financial base from within upon which to draw. And that’s because of their oil wealth.” Therefore is Iraqi oil a boon from the gods or is it the curse from the devil? There were so many differing perspectives on whether or not oil is a sanguine to Iraq, and I wondered if there were actually genuine facts and evidence that could prove my question. Maybe there’s both a positive and negative aspect to Iraq’s large supply of oil. After all, it brought with it both bliss and distress to the country.
Research Conclusion
From rivalry to riches, oil has played an incredibly substantial role in the country of Iraq. It was the well that nourished Iraq’s economy and financial system, yet it was also the trigger to the war against the US. For Iraq, there are both positive and negative aspects to having an abundant supply of oil in the country. I learned that oil has an effect on numerous areas of Iraq’s development and regime, including the country’s politics and economy, the security and safety of its citizens, and the country’s foreign affairs and relations. Oil boosts Iraq’s income and is the main source for the country’s wealth, however results has shown that Iraq has too much dependency on its oil exports and supplies; if oil prices declined, Iraq’s economy would seriously deteriorate. As I stated earlier, oil is also the reason for Iraq’s problematic relationships with countries abroad. It has difficulties with Saudi Arabia due to oil policies and has a tense relationship with the US from the dispute over oil. Not only does it cause conflict with other nations, it causes controversies between people in the country itself, which leads to violence within. The government has to go through the trouble and effort to equally distribute oil revenues between groups and corporations. In spite of this, Iraq’s surplus of oil helps it maintain good relations with other countries as well. Foreign companies and investors want to settle deals and negotiations with Iraq on account of its large supply of oil revenues; this enhances Iraq’s income and increases the country’s level of GDP. After researching on my question, I have come to understand the significance of oil and how it can drastically affect its holders. By looking at all the facts and evidence I gathered from my research, I can conclude that oil has a great contribution to the development and regime of a country, both positively and negatively, especially for the country of Iraq as of its copious supply. Whether it is a blessing or a curse, it is still imprecise. Maybe that question will remain undetermined. After all, it brought both bliss and distress to the country of Iraq.
A flag is used as a symbol or representation of a country. The designs and colors that are used often represents something. While I was researching for my Middle East Project, I came across a flag that interested me. The flag was divided into three equal horizontal stripes; red, white and green. In the middle of the flag was a circular shape colored in red. I looked closer and saw that there were also writing on the edge of the green and red stripes.
