The role of natural resources during the state building process : the case of Iraq

This thesis evaluates the relevance of natural resources during the state building process. In order to achieve its aim the thesis provides the reader with the relevant definitions. These include the definitions of state, nation building and state building. The thesis looks at the theories of state building. These are the Fast- Track Democratization, Security Firsters and Slow Democratization. It then provides the historical and current context of state building activities. It covers state building and the major state building actors since the end of World War One. Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Belgian Congo, and Bosnia as well as the role of United Nations, the United States of America and the European Countries and institutions are briefly given as examples of state building in different historical periods. This is continued by the analyses of state building activities in Iraq, from its inception until today. The case of Iraq is used to analyze the relevance of natural resources in the state building process. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that natural resources play an important role in Iraq´s state building process while a success depends on how the distribution, management and ownership of oil and gas resources will evolve.