The Development Road Initiative and the Transition from Geopolitics of Crisis to Geopolitics of Interdependence: The Prospect of Iraq's Regional Agency

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (Corresponding author).

2 PhD Candidate in Political Science, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Iraq's Development Road Initiative is a key commercial and transit corridor aimed at redefining the country's geopolitical position in the Middle East. This article seeks to analyze the role of this initiative in facilitating Iraq's transition from the geopolitics of crisis to the geopolitics of interdependence and in strengthening the prospect of its regional agency. The research poses the following question: "How can Iraq's Development Road Initiative redefine Iraq's geopolitical dynamics and enhance its regional agency?" Using the method of causal inference and the theoretical framework of transition from the geopolitics of crisis to the geopolitics of interdependence, the study demonstrates that the Development Road, by creating shared economic interests, has the potential to transform Iraq into a regional transit hub and a pivot of cooperation. Furthermore, as a manifestation of interdependence, this initiative has the capacity to overcome internal and international crises through the accumulation of capital and integration into a development trajectory, by generating joint foreign investments and positioning itself as a central corridor for the transfer of goods from South and Southeast Asia to Europe. Nevertheless, the success of this transition and the strengthening of Iraq's regional agency depend on domestic reforms such as combating systemic corruption and political instability, securing broad participation from regional actors, and managing international rivalries.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 08 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 31 May 2026

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