Literature Review

This review covers the existing literature around rentier states, political systems, and economic development. The term rentier state is the core subject of this chapter. Moreover, it describes the research problem, and in addition, relevant concepts and theories connected to rentier states, good governance, democracy, and economic development. This section includes a critical review of previous key research that is of importance to this book. It starts first with the historical evolution of the Kurdistan Region, concepts, definition, theoretical frameworks, causes, and impacts of rentier states. Then, it provides an overview of the interplay between economics, politics, and development, particularly in a rentier state. Later, it comprehensively discusses economic policies and political dynamics in resource-abundant states. In the last section, this chapter identifies the gap in the existing literature, which becomes the research goal of this book and contribution to the literature.