This course examines the political economy of oil as a basis of international affairs. We begin with the system of governance of world oil, contrasting the present, "globalized" oil order against the old, late-colonial oil order, which ended with the nationalizations of the 1970's "OPEC Revolution." We then consider data on the present and future role of oil in the world economy. With this in mind, we turn to petroleum in international affairs since WWII, especially contemporary U.S. geo-strategy towards the Persian-Gulf oil-producing states of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE; towards Algeria in North Africa; and in Latin America towards Venezuela and Mexico. Themes here include the material basis for both contention and collusion between the U.S.-led OECD (First World) states and various OPEC oil-producing states. This includes the present contradiction between U.S.-OECD pressure to re-open nationalized oil fields for foreign direct investment (FDI) and for re-privatization, as versus "the new nationalism" of many national oil companies in the Middle East and especially Latin America (including so-called "nationalization without expropriation"). Lastly, we examine the energy strategies of the U.S., E.U., Japan, Russia, India and China within the present globalized oil order, and energy contradictions among these states, especially how U.S. predominance within the both the Persian Gulf and the new globalized oil order act as major pillars of its hegemonic position vis-a-vis all its major economic rivals. Syllabus: http://www.umich.edu/~twod/oil-ns

This seminar course is cross listed in the Graduate Program in International Affairs and Graduate Economics. Where possible, students with stronger international-affairs or economics backgrounds are presented options for significantly more in-depth study from their respective areas of concentration, and are expected to actively contribute accordingly to class discussions and debates. A major research paper will be developed in stages, with several points of consultation with the instructor (and, hopefully, with the class generally, depending on class size).

- REQUIREMENTS: Read, prepare and participate actively in discussions; occasional written research reports, and final research paper.

Grading: