The Oil Curse Essay

Saudi Arabia is commonly known for its strict moral values and customs regarding religion and women. Gender discrimination is a global conflict but it is prevalently seen in Saudi Arabia. Gender discrimination is so poignant in Saudi Arabia because there are strict sets of moral guidelines and ideologies that Saudi Arabian culture implements on its people. Although Saudi Arabian men impose restrictions on women for the sake of upholding their cultural beliefs and family’s honor, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabian culture is male dominated and holds misogynistic views on women, but progress is being made.

Being born and raised in America, I and many other Americans have been taught that we live in a country of freedom. Women and men are treated equally; every human being has rights, and you have the freedom to move at will and without restrictions. Women have come a long way in our country, gaining rights ever since the dawn of patriarchy and proving that they are just as good as men with the ability to think, speak, and act for themselves. However, discrimination of women still exists in America and many other countries, but women are taking a stand and trying to eliminate the inequality between genders, such as the difference in salaries, and the bad representation of and portrayal of women in the media.

Currently Saudi Arabia is one of the leading producers of oil in the world. However, it is losing its foothold on the market. Many countries, like North America, are increasing their oil production and are looking for ways to become less dependent on foreign oil. The increased competition has caused oil prices to decrease. By producing their own oil, countries not only will increase their revenues, but will also reduce their need to rely on foreign oil. By reducing their need foreign an oil a country does not have to worry that their oil supply will be cut off if they go to war.

Oil has often been referred to as any economy’s lifeblood. Although this is an overemphasis, oil has been the key, nonhuman resource of the economy throughout the largest part of the 20th century. In the book “The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, And Power” by Daniel Yergin, the author illustrates the political, societal, economic, and geo-strategic importance of this product.

Going to the water was a hazard and they starved or was covered in the oiled

There are two major barriers that are leading to an inevitable failure in the Royal Biscuit and Edeling merger. The first, and most important, is the lack of cultural competency between Brighton and Wallach, the two merger officiators. Both parties are displaying characteristics of ethnocentrism and misperception. Second, is the lack of corporate competency resulting from dissimilar corporate cultures, histories and business strategies. If the merger of the two companies is to be successful then corporate synergy must be realized; otherwise the union is doomed to failure.

The 1952 constitution is the most recent document that has increased executive responsibility. Islam is the official religion, and Jordan is declared to be part of the Arab ummah (“nation”). “Jordan is divided into 12 administrative muḥāfaẓāt (governorates), which in turn are divided into districts and subdistricts, each of which is headed by an official appointed by the minister of the interior.” All the cities and towns have a mayor which it represents. The king remains as the country’s ultimate authority and wields power over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Saudi Arabia is a leader in the war against terrorism. My country brought the world together for an international conference in 2005 to align nations in the fight against terrorism. The kingdom contributed more than $100 million to create a global center for counterterrorism at the United Nations and established a 40-member Islamic Military Coalition to combat terrorism and extremism. It also is a member of the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Counter ISIL and is part of the coalition’s continuing military

“Believers have every right to build their politics on basic religious ideals such as truth, justice and the welfare of all people,” (Viewpoint, 10). They take teachings from the Qur’an and alienate them into radicalized ideas. One of the main branches of Islam, that they use, is Wahhabism. “The faith that drives Osama bin Laden and his followers is a particularly austere and conservative brand of Islam known as Wahhabism, which was instrumental in creating the Saudi monarchy, and if sufficiently alienated, could tear it down,” (Middle East, paragraph 1). They change the lessons into a much stronger and harsher version of what they actually are. “Saudi rulers essentially owe their power to the Wahhabis,” (Middle East, paragraph 15). “Wahhabis believe their faith should spread, not giving ground in any place they have conquered. Thus Saudi Arabia was a main financial backer of the mujahedeen fighting,” (Middle East, paragraph 5). Wahhabism originated from Saudi Arabia and Saudis have very strong beliefs about their faith. They try to expand their religion into other areas in the

Conflict over energy resources—and the wealth and power they create—has become an increasingly prominent feature for geopolitics particularly in the Middle East . The discovery of oil in the late nineteenth century added a dimension to the region as major outside states powers employed military force to protect their newly acquired interests in the Middle East. The U.S.’s efforts to secure the flow of oil have led to ever increasing involvement in the Middle East region’s political affairs and ongoing power struggles. By the end of the twentieth century, safeguarding the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf had become one of the most important functions of the U.S. military establishment. The close relationship between the United States and the Saudi royal family was formed in the final months of World War II, when U.S. leaders sought to ensure preferential access to Saudi petroleum. The U.S. link with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region has demonstrated to be greatly beneficial to both parties, yet it has also led to ever deepening U.S. involvement in regional politics.

Saudi Arabia justice system is based on Sharia and Islamic law from the Quran and the Sunnah, which are the Muslim traditions formed from Islamic prophet Muhammad. Sharia has been adopted by Saudi Arabia in an unmodified method. The Saudi court system was created by King Abdul Aziz who founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia back in 1932, the kingdom was introduced to the country between 1927 and 1960. The Saudi Arabia first criminal method was issued in 2001, decisions are made without juries and usually by a single judge. Some of the punishments that are still practiced in Saudi Arabia are, stoning, beheading, amputation and lashing. Serious criminal behavior include murder, rape, theft, robbery, adultery, which craft, sorcery and apostasy.

Initially, Saudi Arabia was largely a subsistence economy, gaining its revenues from subsistence agriculture and sale of natural resources. The Saudi population was highly dependent on subsistence farming and was very poor, given that climatic conditions in Saudi Arabia are not favourable for food production. However, the situation drastically changed when oil was first discovered in 1930 's. Although a highly sought after commodity, oil prices were

Then, in the mid 1700s, Saudi ruler Muhammad ibn Saud, from the Saud dynasty, forged an alliance with a religious reformer named Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. Ibn Abd al-Wahhab was discontent with the growing disregard for Islamic teachings in Arabia. He taught that the people should return to strict observance and practice of Islamic laws. Adherents to this belief, called Wahhabis, were backed by the armies of the Saud dynasty, and together, these forces began a movement. Areas that converted to Wahhabi beliefs were taken over by the Saud family, thus increasing the size of the Saudi State. However, by 1891, most Saudi control of Arabia was taken by tribal chiefs and by the Ottoman Empire. Then, in 1902, a young Saudi leader named Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud began to reclaim land that his ancestors had lost. He also sought diligently to revive the Wahhabi movement, which heavily emphasized the Islamic beliefs and strict adherence to them. In 1932, Ibn Saud unified the regions he conquered into one state- an Islamic state that he dubbed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy. Shipments of oil account for 87 percent of total exports and for 46 percent of GDP. In recent years, in order to diversify the economy, the government has been investing in telecommunications, petrochemicals, natural gas exploitation and power generation sectors.

The United Arab Emirates, more commonly referred to as the UAE, gained independence from England in 1971. The late President, Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan al Nahyan, ruled the UAE from the start of its sovereignty all the way until his death in 2004 (Rugh, 1997, p. 18). Zayid implemented a federal monarchy across the state. Unlike many other monarchies, the UAE has sustained great rule while maintaing peace with its people. Many factors influence this trend and without them the regime of the UAE would most likely fail. The UAE has flourished for nearly 40 years with a ruling governmental regime where the majority of power is put into the hands of only a select few by disallowing political parties and restricting political participation (Rugh,