Myth, oil, and politics: introduction to the political economy of petroleum

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5097890

Doran, C F

Myth, Oil, and Politics traces the transformation of international oil politics and commerce set off by the takeover of the world oil market by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). With the sudden rise in importance of oil matters, myths regarding the origins and impact of oil politics have emerged. The author first enumerates the components of myth present in the oil issue, such as uncertainty, shock, lack of technical information, contrived secrecy, power, exaggeration, and heavy media involvement. Six chapters then thoroughly discuss the extant petroleum myths: unfair oil prices (inequity); Israel and oil (association); ''obscene'' corporate profits (exploitation); divestiture (salvation by regulation); International Energy Agency (collective consumer response); and OPEC cohesion (perpetual unity) . Myth, Oil, and Politics explains how these myths have emerged, why they have emerged, why they have held such attractiveness for various groups, and what the implications are for energy policy if they are accepted as valid. Specific recommendations for U.S. energy policy in the international area appear in the book's final two chapters, which clearly distinguish the myths from the political-economic realities. Extensive references for each chapter.

• OSTI ID: 5097890
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020000 -- Petroleum
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
294002* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Petroleum
AGREEMENTS
ASIA
COMMERCE
ECONOMICS
ENERGY POLICY
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ISRAEL
LEGAL ASPECTS
MIDDLE EAST
NORTH AMERICA
OPEC
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PROFITS
PUBLIC OPINION
USA
VERTICAL DIVESTITURE