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The Oil Kings
Book

The Oil Kings

How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East

Andrew Scott Cooper
Simon & Schuster, 2011

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

If you think the US’s alternative energy policy is forging ahead, think again. It has been stalled for decades, largely because of US reliance on oil from Iran and Saudi Arabia. Andrew Scott Cooper, a historian and NGO activist, offers a dense presentation about the geopolitics of oil from 1969 to 1977. He focuses on the politicians and diplomats of the time, covering their relationships and limitations. Cooper discusses the flawed decision making that shaped American foreign policy and the US’s dependence on foreign oil. He tells a powerful story, much of it revealed for the first time, since he culled research from newly declassified documents. While the book occasionally gets bogged down in minutiae that distract from the more interesting main narrative, getAbstract recommends it to anyone intrigued by the convoluted mechanics of oil geopolitics.

Take-Aways

  • In 1969, Persian Gulf nations delivered one-third of the developed world’s oil.
  • To secure oil supplies through the volatile Gulf region, President Richard Nixon’s administration promoted the “Nixon Doctrine.”
  • The Nixon Doctrine’s aim was to supply pro-US regimes, especially Iran, with arms.

About the Author

Andrew Scott Cooper is a PhD candidate in American history. He has worked with the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.

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    A. 6 years ago
    Great...
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    D. C. getAbstract 1 decade ago
    A clear, concise history on Iran-US relations: Weren't these two nations once friends? They sure were. For anyone who is too young to remember the '70s or anyone who was too caught up in disco at the time and needs a recap, this is a wonderful explanation of today's tensions.