Oil imperialism theories
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oil imperialism theories characterize a broad group of political science theories which assert that direct and indirect control of world petroleum reserves is a root factor in current international politics.
While economists and historians agree that access to important resources has throughout history been a factor in warfare and in diplomacy, oil imperialism theories generally tend to assert that control of petroleum reserves has played an overriding role in international politics since World War I. Further, the use of the word imperialism renders such analyses particularly contentious.
Some critics of the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, argued that oil imperialism was a major driving force behind these conflicts.
Some theories hold that access to oil defined 20th century empires and was the key to the ascendance of the United States as the world's sole superpower and explain why Russia was able to sustain itself for so long despite poor economic organization.
Petrodollar theory states that the recent wars in Iraq are partly motivated by keeping the US dollar the international currency. Iraq changed its oil transactions to euro in 2000. This move was reverted in 2003 after the invasion.
[edit] See also
- Dollar hegemony
- Hydraulic despotism
- Oil crisis
- Petrodollar warfare
- Resource curse
- Renewable energy
- Iranian oil bourse
- Chart of exports and production of oil by nation
- List of oil-producing states
[edit] External links
- Oil Imperialism - by Norman D. Livergood - note: this essay is clearly delineated as expressing a specific point of view, with support for this position offered throughout the essay. The list of additional journal articles offered as references at the end provide additional verification of the essay's point of view.
- Crossing the Rubicon: the Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil, by Michael Ruppert
