Energy Policy in Middle East

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

In this class we will discuss how the Middle East has been shaped by the impact of oil and natural gas. Fossil resources have influenced both domestic politics and foreign relations. In rentier states such as Qatar oil and natural gas revenues dominate state income and are the basis for a social contract with no representation but generous benefits to citizens. There are also semi-rentier states such as Egypt with greater oil and gas potential and Syria with declining reserves, as well as countries without fossil resources, like Lebanon, that depend on migrant remittances from Gulf countries (though some of these countries, including Lebanon, might exploit oil and gas in the future).