Revisiting natural resources in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

The struggle for natural resources has historically been central in the modern Middle East and North Africa, yet it has also recently contributed to destabilising it. This ebook explores the role of natural resources in reshaping geopolitics, driving and perpetuating conflicts and deepening socioeconomic inequality in the MENA. The ebook takes natural resources as a prism to understand the newly emerging political and regional order, situating natural resources at the core of recent transformations. It focuses on oil and natural gas but also looks at water, minerals and food, taking a holistic approach that contributes to exploring common trends. By identifying connections and drawing comparisons across a range of themes and case studies, the ebook offers innovative new directions for policymaking.