Original scientific paper
American Relations with Saudi Arabia: An Assessment of Shifting Policies
Daniel Pustelnik
Ante Lucic
Abstract
After contextualizing the rise of oil as a factor in Great Power geo-strategy in the late 19th and early 20th century, the paper at hand zooms in on the shift from passivity to interventionism in American policy towards Saudi Arabia as an effect of the increased importance of petroleum. It is shown how immediate resource depletion worries and more long-term strategic concerns prompted an increasing American involvement in Saudi Arabia, the effects of which are felt until today.
We take a holistic view on the complex entanglement of political and economic, state and private interests. The shift of momentum from primarily private initiative to state initiative during and after WWII is emphasized. It is shown that until WWII a good case could be made in favor of a high degree of political passivity – not out of genuine strategic disinterest for Saudi Arabia, but to leave the stage to diplomatically less conspicuous private actors as long as possible.
A review of the scramble-for-oil era can potentially yield useful historical insights, e.g. for the analysis of the international dynamic which fresh water is gaining as a scarce resource. The evolution of America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is a classical example of strategic entry to gain control of a vital resource. It can provide an historical case for the approach of phasing into a market with private activity preceding political intervention.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
59141
URI
Publication date:
14.9.2009.
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