Energy Kingdoms: Oil and Political Survival in the Persian Gulf

The Gulf monarchies, which discovered oil in the 1930s, have become wealthy but face a dilemma due to high consumption rates and the threat of climate change. Jim Krane's book "Energy Kingdoms" explores how energy subsidies have distorted demand and the challenges Gulf leaders face in maintaining their states' viability.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2021
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The Gulf monarchies, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain, experienced a remarkable transformation after the discovery of oil in the 1930s. These once impoverished and isolated nations have now become some of the most ostentatiously wealthy countries in the world. To maintain their support, the ruling sheikhs have provided their subjects with boundless cheap energy, inadvertently leading to some of the highest consumption rates on the planet. However, as summertime temperatures set new records, the Gulfs rulers are now caught in a dilemma: can they curb their profligacy without jeopardizing the survival of some of the world's last absolute monarchies?

In his book, Energy Kingdoms, Jim Krane delves into the complex dynamics of these monarchies' energy use and policies. He traces the history of the Gulf states' energy consumption, highlighting how energy subsidies have distorted demand. Oil exports are the lifeline of their political-economic systems and the foundation of their strategic importance, but domestic consumption has begun to outpace exports, while climate change threatens to render their desert regions uninhabitable.

At stake are the very way of life of the Gulf leaders, their relations with their Western protectors, and their political stability in a region characterized by chaos. Krane, with his rich fieldwork and deep knowledge of the region, expertly lays out the hard choices that Gulf leaders face to keep their states viable. He explores the challenges of diversifying their economies, reducing dependence on oil, and adapting to the changing climate.

The book also sheds light on the social and economic consequences of the Gulf's oil-driven development. While the sheikhdoms have enjoyed immense wealth and prosperity, there have been growing concerns about income inequality, environmental degradation, and social unrest. Krane examines the impact of these issues on the Gulf's citizens and the efforts made by the rulers to address them.

Energy Kingdoms is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Gulf region and its complex relationship with energy. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing these nations as they navigate the transition towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. The book is a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and anyone interested in the politics, economics, and energy dynamics of the Middle East.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231179317