This post was written by Rosa Dominquez-Faus, post-doctorial researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis. Author Michael Levi in his new book Power Surge argues that renewable energy and the shale revolution are complementary rather than competing energy strategies for the United States. Indeed, analysis shows that CO2 emissions from the power sector [...]  More »

For decades, academic scholars and regional political commentators have written about the “Arab order” which loosely referred to the trend line in the political economy of the Middle East. The musings about the new Arab order gained prominence with independence movements in the early twentieth century and remain in today’s discourse. The promise of past [...]  More »

Middle Eastern countries are starting to feel the pinch of the U.S. shale revolution. Even Saudi Arabia will find new competition for its liquefied petroleum gas and other feedstock exports, as the United States hikes its exports of natural gas liquids.  More »

The ins and outs of futball staffing in the oil-rich Gulf would seem at first glance to be a subject too esoteric to watch from the oil industry but writer James Dorsey’s recent comments on the fan-driven removal of royal family member Prince Nawaf Bin Feisal, former head of the Saudi Football Federation, are worth [...]  More »

Foreign policy considerations should be central to the discussion of U.S. oil and natural gas export policy. Barriers to energy trade and investment between major oil and gas rich regions and consuming countries can harm the global economy, leave the U.S. and its allies subject to energy blackmail, and create artificial shortages of vital energy [...]  More »

Foreign policy considerations should be central to the discussion of U.S. oil and natural gas export policy. Barriers to energy trade and investment between major oil and gas rich regions and consuming countries can harm the global economy, leave the U.S. and its allies subject to energy blackmail, and create artificial shortages of vital energy [...]  More »

As the media swirls with speculation about the motivations of alleged Boston Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, I am struck by how much the discussion misses a relevant ponit for those striving for political reform in the Middle East. The more important lesson of the Boston Marathon attack and subsequent operation to capture the alleged bombers [...]  More »

As the media swirls with speculation about the motivations of alleged Boston Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, I am struck by how much the discussion misses a relevant point for those striving for political reform in the Middle East. The more important lesson of the Boston Marathon attack and subsequent operation to capture the alleged bombers [...]  More »

Wall Street is unhappy with the performance of ExxonMobil’s share price. In the race of Big Oil share prices, Chevron is clearly winning. The discussion of relative share price performance is recently focusing on two things that distinguish the two oil giants. Unlike ExxonMobil, Chevron opted to stay out of Iraq and hasn’t yet purchased [...]  More »

The first signs are emerging that key Persian Gulf members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are adjusting their strategies to cope with the growing threat that North American shale oil is making to their long-term dominance in global energy markets.  More »

Earlier this month, the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on US natural gas exports. Republicans championing exports say LNG exports will create jobs and raise revenue for the federal government. Democrats worry that exports will undercut the resurgence in US manufacturing. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) led the charge arguing [...]  More »

Chávez extracted high rents from oil companies, investment in the sector has fallen and production in the oil-rich Orinoco Belt has stagnated. A government shakeup could bring positive change.  More »