From free oil to 'freedom oil

Terrorism, war and US Geopolitics in the Persian Gulf

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3948706
AutoresPhilippe Le Billon (0000-0002-4635-2998, University of British Columbia), Fouad El Khatib (Ministry of Defence)
Año2004
Volumen9
Número1
Páginas109-137
Fecha de publicación2004-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaGeopolitics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1465-0045 • E-ISSN: 1557-3028
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14650040412331307852
OpenAlexW2033767084
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas30

Oil has been a major driving force behind foreign interests, regional and domestic balance of power, and territorial conflicts in the Persian Gulf. As a result of the ‘9/11’ terrorist attacks debates on oil and the United States' security agenda have significantly shifted. If on one side, those opposing US military interventionism have argued that the ‘war on terror’ provided one more convenient cover for a renewed ‘imperialist oil grab’ in this region; on the other, links between oil and terrorism pointed at problems of governance in oil-producing countries. As the ‘war on terror’ became justified as a ‘war of liberation’ against oil-funded dictators, the US portrayed its foreign policy as shifting from ensuring free access to oil for the world market, to ensuring that oil is delivering ‘freedom’ to local populations. Although engaging the crucial issue of oil governance, there is yet little evidence given the number of war victims and potential vested interests that a US policy shift from ‘free oil’ to ‘freedom oil’ is genuine and viable

Economics · Economy · Foreign policy · Geopolitics · International relations · Persian · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Terrorism · Global Energy Security and Policy · Law · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Natural Resources and Economic Development