Episode 1 — Politics, Energy, and Opposition in the Gulf: What You Need to Know (Friday, 23 April 2021)
Speaker: Dr Jessie Moritz, Australian National University
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman) are global energy powerhouses, controlling over 30% of the world’s oil reserves. Traditionally, the region is understood as energy-rich, religiously conservative, and ruled by powerful royal families. These factors theoretically contributed to stability in the Gulf, even as other parts of the Middle East fell prey to conflict and unrest.
However, the Gulf is changing. Oil prices are low and that is placing fiscal pressure on Gulf governments. A new generation of royals have come to power, disrupting the status quo. Islamist movements have been more active since the Arab Spring protests in 2011 and Gulf governments are deeply divided over how to respond.
Let us untangle new trends in Gulf politics, debunk common misconceptions about the region and discuss what you need to know to understand the contemporary Gulf.
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Dr Jessie Moritz is a Lecturer at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University. She has previously held a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University, as well as visiting positions at KFCRIS in Riyadh, Qatar University and the University of Exeter. Her current research focuses on the political economy of energy in the Arabian Peninsula, with a particular focus on state-society relations and diversification strategies.
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Opening tune by audionautix.com
