OPEC as an actor in world politics: a study in its internal and external dimensions

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6729401

Al-Hulwah, M I

The OPEC oil price increases of the 1970s and their economic and political effects on the oil-importing and oil-exporting countries have called attention to OPEC as an actor in world politics. This study examines the internal and external aspects of OPEC in light of the following hypotheses: (1) the bargaining power of the major oil companies has been curtailed in favor of OPEC members; (2) potential economic differences and political conflicts among OPEC members raise no real threat to the survival of OPEC; (3) development of alternative sources of energy will not likely restrain OPEC's active role in world politics; and (4) the unbridled power of OPEC to increase oil prices will likely be restrained by the effects of these increases on oil-importing countries. In addition to testing these hypotheses, this study attempts to trace OPEC's origin and explores the role of Saudi Arabia as the residual OPEC supplier. Since the OPEC revolution of October 1973, numerous academic works and press reports have been published on OPEC. The author depended heavily on these sources. In addition, information supplied by some prominent energy institutions during a research trip to Vienna, Austria, and Washington, DC was also used. The findings of this study tend to support the preceding hypotheses.

• OSTI ID: 6729401
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OIL-EXPORTING COUNTRIES
OPEC
PETROLEUM
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PRICES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS