Iraq’s Policy in Managing Its Water Resources (1921-1945)

Abstract

This study aims to examine Iraq’s water policy from its establishment as an independent state in 1921 until the end of World War II in 1945. It highlights the role of the British expert William Wilcox, who was commissioned by the Ottoman government in 1908 and later presented his renowned report on Iraq’s water resources in 1911.

Following the establishment of the Iraqi state in 1921, British engineers, who were part of the occupying British forces, took charge of supervising and directing Iraq’s water policy primarily to serve British interests. Their approach disregarded the long-term future of Iraq’s water management and the country's situation after their departure. During this period, irrigation project contracts were exclusively awarded to British companies, which not only delayed project completion but also significantly increased construction costs.

As a result, considerable disagreements emerged between the evolving Iraqi technical expertise and the British engineers, who deliberately hindered Iraq’s development to maintain their control over its resources. This situation led successive Iraqi governments to seek technical experts from allied and neighboring countries, such as Egypt and the United States. In late 1945, a new body known as the Technical Authority for Major Irrigation Projects was established to formulate a new policy for Iraq’s irrigation projects, aiming to compete with British companies in the upcoming phase