Petro-Aggression: When Oil Causes War

Oil is the world's single most important commodity and its political effects are pervasive. Jeff Colgan extends the idea of the resource curse into the realm of international relations, exploring how countries form their foreign policy preferences and intentions. Why are some but not all oil-exporting 'petrostates' aggressive? To answer this question, a theory of aggressive foreign policy preferences is developed and then tested, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Petro-Aggression shows that oil creates incentives that increase a petrostate's aggression, but also incentives for the opposite. The net effect depends critically on its domestic politics, especially the preferences of its leader. Revolutionary leaders are especially significant. Using case studies including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, this book offers new insight into why oil politics has a central role in global peace and conflict.

Author: Jeff D. Colgan
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 01/31/2013
Pages: 324
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.00h x 5.90w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9781107654976
ISBN10: 1107654971
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | International Relations | General
- Technology & Engineering | Military Science