The Oil Wars Myth: Petroleum and the Causes of International Conflict

Book cover of The Oil Wars Myth: Petroleum and the Causes of International Conflict by Emily Meierdingby Emily Meierding
@EMeierding

Do countries fight wars for oil? Given the resource’s exceptional military and economic importance, most people assume that states will do anything to obtain it. Challenging this conventional wisdom, The Oil Wars Myth reveals that countries do not launch major conflicts to acquire petroleum resources. Emily Meierding argues that the costs of foreign invasion, territorial occupation, international retaliation, and damage to oil company relations deter even the most powerful countries from initiating “classic oil wars.” Examining a century of interstate violence, she demonstrates that, at most, countries have engaged in mild sparring to advance their petroleum ambitions.

The Oil Wars Myth elaborates on these findings by reassessing the presumed oil motives for many of the twentieth century’s most prominent international conflicts: World War II, the two American Gulf wars, the Iran–Iraq War, the Falklands/Malvinas War, and the Chaco War. These case studies show that countries have consistently refrained from fighting for oil. Meierding also explains why oil war assumptions are so common, despite the lack of supporting evidence. Since classic oil wars exist at the intersection of need and greed—two popular explanations for resource grabs—they are unusually easy to believe in.

The Oil Wars Myth will engage and inform anyone interested in oil, war, and the narratives that connect them.

Show more
Show less

Interview with the Author

Podcast Art for The Lawfare PodcastThe Lawfare Podcast 
Oil Wars in Myth and Reality, with Emily Meierding
5/16/22         48 min

Podcast art for Military History Inside OutMilitary History Inside Out 
20th Century conflict – “The Oil Wars Myth (Cornell University Press, 2020) – Emily Meierding interview
5/27/20           52 min

Buy on Amazon

Related books

Book cover of Private Empire ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve CollPrivate Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power Book cover of The Blue Age: How the US Navy Created Global Prosperity--And Why We're in Danger of Losing It by Gregg EasterbrookThe Blue Age: How the US Navy Created Global Prosperity–And Why We’re in Danger of Losing It AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, And The New World Order Book cover of To Rule the Waves: How Control of the World's Oceans Shapes the Fate of the Superpowers by Bruce JonesTo Rule the Waves: How Control of the World’s Oceans Shapes the Fate of the Superpowers Book cover of Wireless Wars: China's Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We're Fighting Back by Jonathan PelsonWireless Wars: China’s Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We’re Fighting Back

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*