Oil politics and the future of Middle East

Oil politics is nothing new. It has been analyzed relentlessly and repeatedly by scientists, political analysts and government officials. This is not a new topic but its awareness has been in a steady increase thanks to the increase in costs of crude oil, the tumbling market of SUV and the political mindgames Middle Eastern countries play. So, how exactly are we, as the citizen of the Earth, going to be affected by the outcome of this oil politic?

The steady increase of price in crude oil has a pronounced impact on our everyday lives. Whether it's a few cents more at the gas pump, or a slight bump in the prices of goods and services we purchase, our judgement and behaviour are unconsciously being shaped by the true driving force behind our economy - crude oil. You may not agree with me that every move you make is somehow tied with the price of oil. But think about this, how willing are you to drive if the gas pump price escalates to tenfolds of what is now? For the public transit commuters or others (i.e. cyclists and other oil independent individuals), what you don't realize is almost every single item you use is a derivative of crude oil. Household items like a plastic container, a piece of rubber band, or even the cloth you wear are all either completely or contains parts which derived from crude oil. We are all parts of a society which nurishes, links and strives from the oil economy. A world without crude oil will be one without hopes and dreams, and a lack of developement of every kind.

The oil producing countries of Middle East and other major oil suppliers knew our reliance on oil and they exploited it with every ways imaginable. Since they've been given the birthrights to own and operate on the oil currency, they have many distinct advantages which no other First World countries have. Oil provides them with significant leverage when it comes to international trade, negotiation of goods and services, and international politics, where they've all grown to become major players since the 70's. Nowadays, these oil producing countries are even more powerful and can easily manipulate and control of the price of oil in their favor. With the increasing demands of oil from developing countries like China and India further straining the supply, it's only a matter of time before we hit the end of oil (or the next major oil crisis). When that happens, only nations with a huge oil reserve would prevail, and countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Zenezuela will lose their leverage on the international arena. Eventually, it will be a free-for-all for everyone else.

So, for the next half-century, battles will be fought over this important nature resource - crude oil. They will be fought in the name of politics or economic reform. There'll be full-blown, bloody warfare. Battles will be fought on the acquisition of valuable oil fields, on the development of new refinery processes and, finally, on the continuous production of a stable supply.

It is not too late to wake up!