Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
By Middle East Policy
The journal provides analysis on the future of the market and the East-West struggle to influence it.
From the recent decisions by OPEC+ members to reduce oil production to the continuing repercussions from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the global energy market has experienced a tumultuous period raising questions about economic growth, inflation, and sustainability.
Middle East Policy is providing comprehensive analysis of key developments in the region, giving readers the information they need to understand the changing dynamics, including place of the region in the coming energy transition, China’s role in busting US sanctions and in developing nuclear energy, and the effects of Russian influence.
Here are some of most recent and topical studies we have published:
These former diplomats and energy experts discuss the need to transition from fossil fuels for cleaner, renewable energies and changing consumption trends in the region and around the world.
In a Capitol Hill Conference organized by the Middle East Policy Council, panelists analyzed alternatives to heavily polluting sources of energy, including natural gas and solar, both of which the Middle East is rich in.
This article evaluates the importance of oil in the relationship between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdistan Region, an autonomous federal province in northern Iraq. Oil has long been at the center of the volatile relationship, as Iraq believes all oil should be run through the state-owned SOMO company, while the Kurdish regional government moved ahead with exports on its own.
A lack of clarity in the country’s 2005 constitution laid the groundwork for disagreement and a dependency by the Kurdish government on oil revenue, inspiring its actors to push for an electoral referendum in 2017, which resulted in losses in parliamentary seats and oil revenue.
The article analyzes how trade between Iran and China, which has historically been based around oil, has changed as a result of US sanctions that aim to cut Iran’s oil revenue to zero.
China’s need for energy and Iran’s need for income has driven much of their bilateral business underground to evade the crippling sanctions that have been imposed. Iran’s economy has become deeply reliant on this relationship, receiving vast quantities of Chinese goods and services, orienting the Persian Gulf country to the east.
This article identifies the development of nuclear energy as a “new frontier” in China’s economic cooperation with countries in the Middle East, as it can provide for fundamental needs, such as electricity, without necessitating oil production.
As the world looks to transition away from fossil fuels, nuclear energy presents a viable and desirable option, already providing around 10% of the world’s electricity. Its research and industry represent another facet of China’s expansion into the Middle East as the country aims to work together in civil nuclear energy with others across the region, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Algeria, and Turkey.
Government officials and foreign-policy experts discuss the widespread ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the areas of food supply distribution, energy production, diplomatic relationships, and more.
In a Capitol Hill Conference organized by the Middle East Policy Council, panelists analyzed concerns about reliance by countries in the Middle East on Ukrainian wheat and grain exports, and a hesitancy to become involved in a conflict waged by a superpower in Russia that is very active in the region, particularly in Syria and in dealing with Iran.
This article examines the developing relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan, a small Muslim-majority country in Central Asia. Despite a shared Shiite identity with Iran, the two countries have a historically adversarial relationship, one driving force for Azerbaijan’s interest in forging closer ties with Israel as it seeks to balance against Russia to the north and Iran to the south.
Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
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By Middle East Policy
The journal provides analysis on the future of the market and the East-West struggle to influence it.
From the recent decisions by OPEC+ members to reduce oil production to the continuing repercussions from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the global energy market has experienced a tumultuous period raising questions about economic growth, inflation, and sustainability.
Next week, Iraq will reportedly start low-level talks with Turkey aimed at resuming oil exports from Kurdistan—the cutoff of which has been estimated to cost the region $2 billion. The news comes after the parliament in Baghdad agreed on a budget measure allocating a share of oil revenues to the Kurdistan Regional Government. This resolves a years-long dispute that has been analyzed by a Middle East Policy contributor. And last week, Saudi Arabia announced cuts to its crude oil output after similar measures in April and October failed to boost prices in a consumer-friendly market.
Middle East Policy is providing comprehensive analysis of key developments in the region, giving readers the information they need to understand the changing dynamics, including place of the region in the coming energy transition, China’s role in busting US sanctions and in developing nuclear energy, and the effects of Russian influence.
Here are some of most recent and topical studies we have published:
The Future of Energy in the Middle East, by Richard J. Schmierer, Melanie Kenderdine, Kaushik Deb, and Tofol Al-Nasr
These former diplomats and energy experts discuss the need to transition from fossil fuels for cleaner, renewable energies and changing consumption trends in the region and around the world.
In a Capitol Hill Conference organized by the Middle East Policy Council, panelists analyzed alternatives to heavily polluting sources of energy, including natural gas and solar, both of which the Middle East is rich in.
Oil Resources in Relations Between Erbil and Baghdad, by Sara D. Mustafa
This article evaluates the importance of oil in the relationship between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdistan Region, an autonomous federal province in northern Iraq. Oil has long been at the center of the volatile relationship, as Iraq believes all oil should be run through the state-owned SOMO company, while the Kurdish regional government moved ahead with exports on its own.
A lack of clarity in the country’s 2005 constitution laid the groundwork for disagreement and a dependency by the Kurdish government on oil revenue, inspiring its actors to push for an electoral referendum in 2017, which resulted in losses in parliamentary seats and oil revenue.
Bargain and Barter: China’s Oil Trade with Iran, by Shirzad Azad
The article analyzes how trade between Iran and China, which has historically been based around oil, has changed as a result of US sanctions that aim to cut Iran’s oil revenue to zero.
China’s need for energy and Iran’s need for income has driven much of their bilateral business underground to evade the crippling sanctions that have been imposed. Iran’s economy has become deeply reliant on this relationship, receiving vast quantities of Chinese goods and services, orienting the Persian Gulf country to the east.
In with the New: China’s Nuclear-Energy Diplomacy in the Middle East, by Degang Sun, Haiyan Xu, and Yichao Tu
This article identifies the development of nuclear energy as a “new frontier” in China’s economic cooperation with countries in the Middle East, as it can provide for fundamental needs, such as electricity, without necessitating oil production.
As the world looks to transition away from fossil fuels, nuclear energy presents a viable and desirable option, already providing around 10% of the world’s electricity. Its research and industry represent another facet of China’s expansion into the Middle East as the country aims to work together in civil nuclear energy with others across the region, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Algeria, and Turkey.
The Impact of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on the Middle East, by Amin Salam, Jasmine Zaki, Mark N. Katz, Sean McFate, and Jim Moran
Government officials and foreign-policy experts discuss the widespread ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the areas of food supply distribution, energy production, diplomatic relationships, and more.
In a Capitol Hill Conference organized by the Middle East Policy Council, panelists analyzed concerns about reliance by countries in the Middle East on Ukrainian wheat and grain exports, and a hesitancy to become involved in a conflict waged by a superpower in Russia that is very active in the region, particularly in Syria and in dealing with Iran.
Azerbaijan, Israel, and Iran: An Unlikely Triangle Shaping the Northern Middle East, by Namig Abbasov and Emil A. Souleimanov
This article examines the developing relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan, a small Muslim-majority country in Central Asia. Despite a shared Shiite identity with Iran, the two countries have a historically adversarial relationship, one driving force for Azerbaijan’s interest in forging closer ties with Israel as it seeks to balance against Russia to the north and Iran to the south.