Oil,Poli in Mid East

1 Course Unit

Few issues have dominated the economic and political landscape of the Middle East over the past hundred years more visibly than oil. This course examines the historical, economic, political and social dimensions of petroleum exploration in the region, from the first major oil discoveries in Iran in 1908 to more recent attempts to diversify the regions economic and energy practices. Topics discussed include oil and economic development, colonialism and foreign oil exploration, petro-nationalism and the rise of OPEC, the Arab oil embargo of 1973, the significance of oil in the US-Saudi relationship, and the role of climate change and sustainability priorities in the Middle East. 1 Course Unit