Administrative Reform and Anti-Corruption in Iraq after 2003

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of administrative and financial corruption in Iraq after 2003, considering it a fundamental challenge that threatens stability and hinders development and reconstruction pathways during the political transition towards a democratic system. The research problem stems from the fact that the exacerbation of corruption has undermined the legitimacy of the political system, deepened class disparities, and wasted national resources. This escalation is attributed to structural factors and abnormal conditions experienced by the country, such as wars, sanctions, ethnic and sectarian quota systems (Muhasasah), alongside external interventions and the fragility of deterrent laws.

The study deconstructs the nature of corruption and its various forms (such as bribery, nepotism/wasta, embezzlement, and extortion) while analyzing the role of the three oversight institutions tasked with combating it (the Commission of Integrity, the Offices of Inspectors General, and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit). The paper concludes by presenting a comprehensive strategic vision for reform based on three main pillars: political and legal (such as institutionalizing democracy, reinforcing judicial independence, and eliminating legislative loopholes like Article 136/b), administrative (such as adopting transparency, accountability, and developing e-governance), and socioeconomic (such as combating unemployment, activating specialized anti-illicit enrichment bodies, and fostering values of citizenship and integrity through educational and media institutions).