9
more dependent on oil, meet a significant portion of their oil needs from this region.
As the oil needs of Western countries have increased, it is certain that dependence
on this region will continue unless new energy sources alternative to oil arise. On
the other hand, a reduction in oil supply or the interruption of oil delivery has a
significantly negative impact on the world economy.
Even though studies on alternative energy sources are being conducted at an
alarming speed, the area still maintains its unrivaled status in terms of oil because
Gulf oil continues to have the lowest production costs. In addition, considering that
there are 735 billion barrels of reserves in the region, it seems like this area, where
67% of the world oil is located, will continue to be without any alternative in at least
the upcoming 20 years. The region, which meets 40% of the world’s oil production,
maintains its property of having the highest surplus production capacity (El-Katiri
2013:4.9).
Economic Power
The importance of economic power, the possibility of entering energy resources
into the analysis of foreign policy, is based on which energy resources are considered as the most important stimuli to create economic power and power of the state
because if governments seek their own security, resort to power and assess military
dominance as costly, other methods will follow (Orban 2008:18).
Using and manipulating energy supply or reliance on specific sources or suppliers of energy will provide suppliers with opportunities to impact other governments
and pursue their agenda in international relations. Utilizing energy resources in foreign policy by suppliers is less costly and provides more domestic support for government foreign policy efforts (Shirkhani and Mohajeri Pour 2012:24).
In the theory of Mearsheimer, states, and especially the great powers, are afraid
of each other, and they can only rely on their ability to survive, and the best way to
do this is to maximize their power against other governments. Hence, gaining power
in the theory of invasive realism has a maximum aspect in comparison with defensive realism theory (Mearsheimer 2001:36).
States do not neglect access if nonessential goals, such as economic progress, do
not contradict the logic of balance of power. This hypothesis can expand the efforts
of countries to control energy resources. Energy resource control is important for
improving economic power or military strength because economic growth leads to
the rise of wealth and, consequently, the strengthening of military power. In
Mearsheimer’s theory, it emphasizes the various aspects of material power, and it is
said that governments are seeking to maximize wealth and military capabilities for
ground warfare (Mearsheimer 2001:70). But he considers the importance of wealth
to be insignificant and considers military strength as most crucial in the creation of
a strong nation; therefore, energy resources are not of significance as much as military power since this latter factor determines the status of countries in the international system (Orban 2008:15–16).
Economic Power
more dependent on oil, meet a significant portion of their oil needs from this region.
As the oil needs of Western countries have increased, it is certain that dependence
on this region will continue unless new energy sources alternative to oil arise. On
the other hand, a reduction in oil supply or the interruption of oil delivery has a
significantly negative impact on the world economy.
Even though studies on alternative energy sources are being conducted at an
alarming speed, the area still maintains its unrivaled status in terms of oil because
Gulf oil continues to have the lowest production costs. In addition, considering that
there are 735 billion barrels of reserves in the region, it seems like this area, where
67% of the world oil is located, will continue to be without any alternative in at least
the upcoming 20 years. The region, which meets 40% of the world’s oil production,
maintains its property of having the highest surplus production capacity (El-Katiri
2013:4.9).
Economic Power
The importance of economic power, the possibility of entering energy resources
into the analysis of foreign policy, is based on which energy resources are considered as the most important stimuli to create economic power and power of the state
because if governments seek their own security, resort to power and assess military
dominance as costly, other methods will follow (Orban 2008:18).
Using and manipulating energy supply or reliance on specific sources or suppliers of energy will provide suppliers with opportunities to impact other governments
and pursue their agenda in international relations. Utilizing energy resources in foreign policy by suppliers is less costly and provides more domestic support for government foreign policy efforts (Shirkhani and Mohajeri Pour 2012:24).
In the theory of Mearsheimer, states, and especially the great powers, are afraid
of each other, and they can only rely on their ability to survive, and the best way to
do this is to maximize their power against other governments. Hence, gaining power
in the theory of invasive realism has a maximum aspect in comparison with defensive realism theory (Mearsheimer 2001:36).
States do not neglect access if nonessential goals, such as economic progress, do
not contradict the logic of balance of power. This hypothesis can expand the efforts
of countries to control energy resources. Energy resource control is important for
improving economic power or military strength because economic growth leads to
the rise of wealth and, consequently, the strengthening of military power. In
Mearsheimer’s theory, it emphasizes the various aspects of material power, and it is
said that governments are seeking to maximize wealth and military capabilities for
ground warfare (Mearsheimer 2001:70). But he considers the importance of wealth
to be insignificant and considers military strength as most crucial in the creation of
a strong nation; therefore, energy resources are not of significance as much as military power since this latter factor determines the status of countries in the international system (Orban 2008:15–16).
Economic Power