Example White Paper #2

SPECPOL

Iraq

Topic B: Modern Day Neocolonialism

James Smith

American High School

Iraq has seen firsthand the devastating effect that neocolonialism has on developing nations. Many of our neighboring countries in the Middle East have had their economies purposefully stunted, and efforts to modernize have been blocked, all to retain the cheap labor and resources that Western powers exploit. Iraq itself has experienced this, as our nation has been subject to a series of invasions and occupations lasting from the early 20th century to beyond 2010. As a result of this constant violence, militant groups have a hold over large parts of Iraq, many of our citizens remain in poverty, and crippling debt undermines any attempt to improve the economic conditions within Iraq. These obstacles have immensely increased our dependence on foreign powers for trade, aid, loans, and investment. Issues very similar to our own exist not only within Iraq and the Middle East but in many developing countries throughout the world. As these developing nations and their citizens continue to be exploited, immediate action should take place to remedy the control that richer powers have and the accompanying economic strain.

In the past, the United Nations attempted to curb the economic dependence that developing nations have on developed nations, namely by emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and decent employment on economic independence. Iraq believes that while these goals are achievable, they must be greatly expanded upon to ensure that economic independence is truly reached. Ineffective or insufficient aid prolongs dependence on foreign powers, leading to less development, lower living quality, and overall worse economic outcomes. From an invasion of Iraq in 1991 to an 8-year-long occupation of Iraq, which lasted until 2011, along with the following years of political unrest and economic instability leading to foreign dependence, Iraq is in a prime position to speak to exactly what aid should look like for developing nations that are overly dependent on developed nations.

In aiming to support the economic prosperity of developing nations, and reduce their dependence on foreign powers for aid, trade, loans, and investments, this committee must focus on the reduction of economic imperialism, limiting nations’ political interference within other nations, and economic self-sufficiency. To this end, Iraq believes resolutions should emphasize a fourfold framework: one, encourage debt relief or debt pause plans for countries whose foreign debt prevents economic growth. Secondly, discourage the influence of politics within other nations through military or other action that inhibits democracy and the will of citizens. Thirdly, encourage private investment into an area, providing jobs and development, to spur economic growth and independence. Fourthly, actively discourage the funding or support of militant groups in other nations that attempt to wrest power from a democratically elected government.