Global Oil Industry Conflict: An Apocalypse End Essay

AbstractHuman beings estimate on the re pedigrees they derive from the surroundings for their surface-being and their very survival. Warf ar is a prominent human application use to discharge access to these re artificial lakes. inunct, float, and minerals ar vital indispens open resources that tolerate crucial human es displaceials. Whether for transport, for heating, or for everyday goods and services, these resources constitute essential keen material inputs. in advance(p) genteelization would struggle to survive without readily easy access to these resources at reasonable and tolerateable prices. For these reason, these resources atomic number 18 considered to be strategical resources, critical for earthal and cosmos(a) advantageously-being and prosperity. This study aims to show fine information intimately crude appointments that pull in occurred in the aside and how they batch be solved in future by use of unceasing mean much(prenominal) as provis ion of slide fastener through early(a) means apart from anele.Key words embrocate industry, global, c everyplace related scrap, apocalypseIntroduction crude anele color forms the largest percentage of faculty consumption in the world, ranging from as low as 30% to as high as 60%, dep give uping on the bucolics zippo consumption. Forming the worlds largest industry in terms of dollar value, the industry which embarrasss deed, distribution, refining as well as retailing is the largest in the world (Venn, 2002).Countries as well as companies and organizations ar a arouse of fightf atomic number 18e of this importance and put up measures that would gain them access to this completely too eventful commodity. In more or less countries, governance activitys put one across put up measures that ensure that rock crude colour colour color colour as accessible to them. These include providing major tax breaks to anoint companies on almost tot eithery petroleum ex plorations as well as extractions. These breaks ex slope to vegetable crude rock embrocate color field leases as well the equipment used in crude embrocate drilling. Governments also provide hard public subsidiaries to these companies. In exchange for the favors that the regimes offer to the companies, they get to access cheaper crude crude inunct for their countries. However, plot of ground petroleum has managed to form a larger part of relief pitcher in industrialization, it has dumbfound the source of participation in many separate of the world, more so in countries where the precious commodity is produced. embrocate and betrothalThe worlds nations interact with each former(a) in their credit line of external natural resources through governanceal and non- governanceal avenues in an astonishing build of bilateral and multilateral ways. These planetary interactions change with time, ranging from cordial and synergistic to incompatible and destructive (Cotet & type A Tsui, 2013, p. 51). For instance, one of the several explicitly enunciated guinea pig- cheerive cover objectives of the regular army is to cling to U.S. sparing interests worldwide by maintaining steady access to susceptibility supplies, other critical resources, and foreign markets. The relations among subdivisions or portions of a nation uniformwise range in changing patterns from the harmonious to the discordant. At the negative essential of these spectra of international and municipal interaction ar found overt threats of onslaught and the actual pursuit of war (Cotet & antiophthalmic factor Tsui,  2013, p. 51).The resort to war by a nation, a throng of nations, or a portion of a nation has been a common approach to achieving a insurance policy objective. The half-dozen or more significant wars currently in progress represent a routine human activity that appears in progress represent a routine human activity that appears not to nonplus changed signi ficantly in the recent decades or centuries in either frequency or in intensity. The global shortage, or perceived shortage, of one or more natural resources, especially embrocate color color, contributes greatly to the belligerent political behavior and the onset of war (Blomberg, Hess & Jackson, 2009, P. 410).Of the minerals akin coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium, the ones considered as possible travails of future wars ar oil and uranium (Blomberg, Hess & Jackson, 2009, P. 409). The world has be trace dependent upon continue supplies of bulky quantities of oil, especially so the industrialized nations. Many nations must depend upon imports to satisfy their enquire for this commodity. Among the major conditions, Russia, mainland chinaware, and the United Kingdom are self-sufficient, and are also exporters of oil. The USA is at present import about deuce-ace of its consumption. France, Germany and Japan must import all their oil. The major exportation nations at present are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, and Mexico. The major exporting region is the put East (Blomberg, Hess & Jackson, 2009, P. 409).Wars fought over oil view in past centuriesA number of wars in the past centuries birth been fought over oil1. anoint has additionally caused many competitivenesss in the world in recent historic period, for example, the war among Sudan and in the south Sudan (Alexander and Keiger, 2002, p. 26). On 10th April, 2012, the sweetly sovereign state of southwesterly Sudan in use(p) the oil center of Heglig. This is a town that was granted to Sudan as a peace settlement that enabled Southern Sudan to secede in 2011. In response to this occupation, the northerners mobilized their own forces and drove the southernmosterlyers out of Heglig (Check and Mdlongwa, 2012, p. 5).This encounter was caused by positionors much(prenominal) as economic differences mingled with the two states, and a perdurable enmity among the southerners and the n ortherners. The biggest cause of this conflict however is oil, and the r razeues produced by oil 2(Johnson, 2003, p. 115). Another evidence of conflicts caused by oil is the naval clashing in the South China sea3 (Buszynski, 2012, p. 140).Multiple factors drove this conflict, but just like the Sudan billet, energy is the most dominant motive. The area in question is say to be having large deposits of oil and natural gas. All nations around the island, including Philippines and China want exploit these coffers. Manila asserts a 200-nautical mile absolute economic zone stretching into the South China Sea from its westward shoreline, a region it named the due west Philippine Sea. Beijing has also asserted sovereignty over the unit area, counting the waters petitioned by Manila. Despite stratums of dialogue, no solution has been found yet further clashes over oil and other resources are probable (Buszynski, 2012, p. 141).Egypt has also had or so oil and energy conflicts with I srael. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation communicated to the Israeli government that they were liberation to terminate the gas acquisition accord, in which Egypt had been providing gas to Israel4. This announcement caused months of demonstrations in Cairo by the protestors who succeeded in depositing Hosni Mubarak. This followed many attacks on the pipelines transporting gas to Israel, which the Egyptian multitude was unable to prevent. The cutoff suggests the use of energy as a form of political warfare (Bradley and Mitnick, 2013, p. 1).genus genus Argentina has also been involved in oil conflicts. The Argentinean government announced that it would seize a majority place in YPF, the nations largest oil company5. This deal would see the Argentinean government lose over one billion dollars a year which was not acceptable. In a nutshell, this situation conflict was mostly fuelled by Argentinas urge to derive greater economic and political benefits from its energy reserves (Erixon and Brandt, 2013, p.9).Causes of oil conflicts in past decadesThe western world was take aback by the 1967 embargo by the Arab oil-producing countries and by the following oil crisis of 1973-74 (Blomberg, Hess & Jackson, 2009, P. 410). These events demonstrated the possibility for oil-producing countries to exert an influence on the world oil supply and to use their oil resources for political goals. At the time, many western scholars and politicians expressed the fear over the threat of oil dullmail. Further developments showed that the brass creature for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had only limited possibilities to disrupt oil supplies and that much(prenominal) fear had been exaggerated (Blomberg, Hess & Jackson, 2009, P. 409). Nevertheless, the set East remains the exceed k at a timen center of conflict having a considerable raw-material component (Humphreys, 2005, p. 511).The situation in the Middle East is grave and complex for three reasons. Firs t, in that location is op present between the Arab countries plus Palestine and Israel. Second, on that point are the tough relations among a number of the Arab countries themselves6. Third, there are hostilities within some of the countries based on religious and political differences. The war between Iran and Iraq served to unpack these two countries from list of major oil exporters (Humphreys, 2005, p. 512).The numerous and varied levels of conflict within the Middle East are viewed with favor by at least some of the oil-importing countries for they are thought to maintain the region in a dynamic balance ( sweetton-Small, 2013, p. 39). The foreign policy of the USA and a number of other states is designed to keep these conflicts alive7. The USA also let it be known that it did not even exclude the possibility of an build up seizure of the Middle Eastern oil deposits if it looked as if the region would draw into the renders of the then USSR (Humphreys, 2005, p.520).The tak e downfall in 1979 of the pro-US regime in Iran appeared to be an irrevocable loss to the US position there. Following this event, the USA took compensatory move to prepare for an alternative presence in the Middle East region8. In 1980, the USA began to develop rapid deployment forces capable of striking the Middle East. Additionally, a number of NATO countries tieed array units on the Sinai Peninsula. This enabled these forces to cast off control over the Suez provide and the Red Sea region. Such action strengthened the Israeli position vis--vis its neighbors (Humphreys, 2005, p. 523).The USA wanted to urinate the impression that it was acting on behalf of the whole Western world in striving to guarantee oil supplies for its NATO allies. barely this was contradicted by the US proclamation that An attempt by any extracurricular force to gain control of the Persian Gulf Region allow for be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and su ch an assault allow for be repelled by any means necessary, including war machine force. Furthermore, the allies of USA experienced substantial economic losses as a result of the US and Israeli foreign policies in the Middle East9. It was also no coincidence that a number of West European nations were make independent, albeit unsuccessful, initiatives to settle the Arab-Israel conflict (Humphreys, 2005, p. 526).Propensity for warPetro-states, states in which revenues from benefit oil exports constitute at least ten percent of gross domestic product (GDP), are among the most violent states in the world. Such states show a remarkable propensity for militarized interstate difference of opinions (MIDs). They engage in MIDs at a rate more than litre percent higher than non-petro-states. This was not always adjust. Until about 1970, petro-states were just about as likely to get into international conflicts as non-petro-states. Yet the young age of oil, which began in earnest after the Arab oil embargo on 1973, created a world in which petro-states play an oversized role in global military affairs. The relatively small group of petro-states has accounted for almost a quarter of all of the worlds international conflicts since 1970 (Colgan, 2010, p. 678).Petro- enmity is the idea that, nether certain circumstances, oil exporting states are systematically more likely to act aggressively and fire up international conflicts. Rather than being solely a magnet for greed and international competition, oil has multiple effects. Oil creates some incentives to increase a petro-states aggressiveness and some incentives to come down it. The net effect of oil for a petro-states foreign policy depends on how the oil income interacts with the states domestic politics. Oil income has its most negative consequences for international peace when it flows into a state that is led by a government with aggressive preferences. Such leadinghip often a scrape ups in the wake of a do mestic political revolution (Colgan, 2010, p. 679).However, not all petro-states are affected by petro-aggression. A common misperception about oil politics is that it has a uniform, monolithic effect on politics. This is not true because the net political effect of oil varies dramatically depending on the reputation of the petrostate. Large-scale oil income generates multiple political incentives that affect a petro-states foreign policy.One of the more important but subtle incentives is that oil facilitates risk-taking by petro-state leaders10. Consequently, a petro-state leader often faces very little political answerability, and consequently a low threat of being ousted from office for unfit and potentially unpopular actions. In non-petro-states, one of the reasons that leaders tend to block international conflicts is because they know that if they are defeated, they are incredibly prone to be ousted from office, either peacefully or violently. Yet a leader with huge financia l resources to redistribute to purchase political support can afford to take chances, counting those concerned with belligerent foreign policy adventurism (Colgan, 2010, p. 680).The net impact of oils multiple effects on a states foreign policy depends critically on its domestic politics, especially the preferences of its leaders. Governments that have come to power by way of a domestic revolution are especially significant. Revolutionary governments are more likely to have aggressive preferences for two reasons. First, subversive politics tend to select leaders that are systematically more risk-tolerant and ambitious to retool the status quo that non-revolutionary leaders. Second, revolutions tend to eliminate domestic political constraints that might other than restrain an aggressive leader from taking a state into conflict or war. Thus, revolutionary states have a higher propensity for aggression than comparable non-revolutionary states, regardless of whether they have oil (Col gan, 2010, p.681).For states in which a revolutionary government has interpreted power, oil amplifies the states propensity to instigate international conflicts. The combination of a risk-tolerant revolutionary leader, financial resources for armed actions, and a lofty scale of political self-sufficiency generated by oil earnings, produces a noxious mix that aids state aggression, which in turn leads to conflict. In non-revolutionary petro-states, the net effect is quite different. Oil still provides incentives for aggression, but these are balanced by the incentives to avoid international conflict, such as the fortune cost of any potentially disrupted oil exports (Colgan, 2010, p.683).Impact of oil discovery and productionReferred to as the worlds black gold, oil has in the last snow or so become a source of hardships and misery in societies where it has been found. Corrupt and authoritarian governments, as well as loop-sided economies, and violent conflict form the order of the day in countries where petroleum producing countries are concerned. Apart from the internal conflict that most of these countries face, there is the fact that huge multinational companies, through military interventions or clandestine trading operations are able to maneuver for the control of oil field by using foreign powers (Stoff, 1982, p. 1945).Due to the lucrative nature of the of the oil industry, even within these countries, rebel groups crop up and want to challenge the government hoping that they too would get part of the profits that come from then oil. These rebels are often dissatisfied citizens who have seen the greed that the government is experiencing as well as the greed and corruption that comes with the industry and feel that the government is not giving them their share11. The degree of the rebel conflicts depends on the strength of the rebel group as well as the ability of the government to quash the rebellion. almost rebellions have even led to the formation o f new countries such as was South Sudans discipline (Keable, 2002, p.178).Oil sight in the between boundaries of two nations has also been cause for conflicts between the countries. These usually lead to boarder conflicts in the regions as well as international conflicts between the two nations because of the oil reservoirs12 (Karl, 1997, p. 120). some other then the border conflicts, the damage that oil production causes to the environment has been a course of major demonstrations and strikes that result to lose of lives. study environmental damages that have resulted either in the production of the oil pr in its transportation such as oil spills have been cause for major uproars all over the world.Finally, there is the fact that oil has become a very expensive commodity. In recent years, the demand for oil has been at an all time high. With high demand comes the need to produce more oil thus more and more oil discoveries are being made all over the world. However, with greater demands comes the parachute in the commodities prices. Rise in demand coupled up with rise in prices makes oil a very scarce resource (Heinberg, 2005, p.133). This has created conflict as people all over the world are now fighting to access this scarce commodity.  What is even sadder is the fact that this is likely to be the trend in the next years to come this would mean that is no solution is sought in the close future the likely sticker of an escalation in the conflicts both local and international is likely as far as oil as a resource is concerned.Reasons both international and local as to why oil is a source of conflictIn the last century or so oil has managed to become a source of conflict in one way or the other. This is more so because of the fact that in recent years oil reservoirs all over the world have dwindled because of too much usage. Studies have found that the connection between oil and conflict generally boils down to two expansive reasons. Its importance in a especial(a) countrys economic as well as military power as well as its irregular geographic distribution in the globe (Saharan).Its economic consequenceOil is the primary energy source in the world. It accounts for almost 40% of the worlds energy consumption. It plays an important role in ground, air and water transportation. In the transport sector, oil provides up to 95% of the energy used in the industry all over the world. It is also used in other industries mentioned earlier on in the paper. Due to the critical role played by oil in the running of an economy, any shortage of this commodity has been known to create global economic recessions (Brtland, 2004, p. 527). There is also the fact that most countries that are able to export oil get good income from this export. Thus, in countries where the leaders may try to tamper with these exports, they are usually met with strong resistance.Its significance to military powerOil provides the energy used to power military equipme nts including the planes as well as the tanks, missiles, armored vehicles, and any other instrument that may be used in a war situation. Modern combat is very expensive to fuel due to the advancement in applied science it is therefore very important that every country stiff their military power by ensuring that that particular military has access to all supplies. Due to the important role that fuel plays in the functioning of a military, governments have ranked fuel possession as a enumerate of national security13 (Klare, 2004, p. 132).Its importance to oil geographyWhile oil is important at a global scale, its reservoirs are not manifestly located in any part of the worlds. In fact, natural petroleum is concentrated in large reservoirs in specific parts of the globe. Studies evidence that the largest reservoir which contributes to a third of the worlds petroleum is dictated in the Persian Gulf area. The countries situated in this are provide about 90% of the worlds oil. Howev er, in recent years, there is said to have occurred a gravitation oil shift, thus the oil reservoirs in countries that originally produced oil are depleting and oil is being discovered in countries that originally did not have any (Goodstein, 2005, p. 143).Types of oil conflictsOil conflicts often occur in either of two stages. The first is may occur before the oil itself is discovered (Basedau & Wegenast, 2009, p. 39). This is where discovery has been made and it has been found that there is a likely hood of oil discovery. The min one may occur where the oil is already being produced. The reasons for this conflict may be divided into three main reasons.Territorial disputesThese disputes burn down where boarders are involved and where offshore areas that are thought to be unimportant are concerned.  Most of these places are usually considered insignificant until an oil discovery is made (Deffeyes, 2008, p. 79).  Some of the areas considered insignificant until the disc overy of oil include the Caspian Sea whose discovery sparked a territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Iran and the West African Bakassi Peninsula that caused friction between Niger Delta and Cameroon (Ako & Okonmah, 2009, p. 56).Separatist strugglesIn most countries, oil is produced in areas inhabited by ethnic groups. However, the proceeds of the production go to government officials as well national coffers. In this case, the members of the ethnic communities go out feel that given the fact that the oil is on their land, and they are not getting anything from the government, then it would be best if they break away from the conjure up nation to form their own (Ako & Okonmah, 2009, p. 57). This has been the case in Nigeria, Indonesia, and the southern part of Sudan. South Sudan is a recently independent state because of such a conflict (Alao, 2007, 124).Factional and dynastic strugglesOil brings out the evil as well as the dictatorship in individuals. This is because w hoever controls the oil and the revenues it brings in controls the nation and its people. Such people want to continue keeping this power and in fact do anything to be able to retain such power. This includes resorting to creature force as well as suppression of the people (Ross, 2012, p. 110). Those not included in the power on the other hand will resort to any means in order to gain control of that power. These groups will resort to rebellion, terrorism, or coups to wrangle power from the powerful14. Dynastic struggles have been a major contributing factor in oil wars at Niger Delta (Frynas, 2001, p. 29).Some of the worlds fuel conflicts as of the last quarter a centuryWhile conflict has been brewing all over the world about oil, and who gets to control it, in recent years these conflicts have escalated (Ebel, 2002, p. 162). In fact as of the past years more than two oil conflicts had erupted between nations over oil. Some of the more recent oil conflicts includeThe Sudan and Sou th Sudan conflictThis conflict is still on outlet to date. Early 2012, troops from the newly formed South Sudan nation occupied an oil center in Heglig, a town that had been granted to Sudan in a treaty between the two nations. The Sudan government organized its troops which were to drive the Southern Sudan troops from the oil center. Since then, there has been conflict between the two nations (Manaz, 2009, p. 74).The southern China Sea naval clashThis particular area is thought to contain large deposits of oil reservoirs. This has elicited a naval clash between the Chinese government and the Filipino government both of who are claiming rights over that particular stretch (Manaz, 2009, p. 72). The Filipino government claims to have discovered the oil and that it would start drilling. On the other hand china claims that the place is their territory.Egypt oil conflict with IsraelAs of the year 2012, Egypt had announced that it would cut off its oil supply to Israel. This announcemen t was followed by months of protests and attacks on the main pipeline that took oil to Israel (Manaz, 2009, p. 72).Syrian oil conflictSyria is a country with massive oil reservoirs and more recently rebels have come up and want a piece of the cake. This has resulted in conflict between the Syrian military and the rebel groups which has recently escalated to the use of chemical weapons (Lyall & Wilson, 2009, p. 70). What is worse is the fact that nobody is aware of the extent to which this particular war this war is going to before it can end.  Even worse is the misgiving that has been brought about by the presence of the US army in this particular conflict ()Lyall & Wilson, 2009, p. 83).RecommendationsThe only way to reduce conflicts over energy resources such as oil is coming up with new energy sources. These include sources such as solar power. The solar photo-voltaic (PV) is a technology used to convert energy from the sun into electricity. Other alternatives include biogas technology that changes organic waste into power, and micro and pico-hydro technologies, which harness energy from falling water, for example, usurious mountain rivers. These new sources of energy can be improved and used globally to reduce dependence on oil, thus reducing oil induced conflicts (Todd, 1982, p. 72).ConclusionOil related conflict is a phenomena that has taken a toll in the last quarter a century or so. What is sad is the fact that at the rate at which these conflicts are taking place, with more than five conflicts reported in the last year alone. This indicates that the world is headed more and more conflicts in the future. Evidently, there are issues that are fueling this rapid movement towards an apocalyptic oil conflict end. Other than greed for power as well as money, the shortage in the commodity is causing a panic in the world. Therefore those with oil want to hoard it and sell it at expensive rates while those without it are fighting to get it.Oil is th e most important global resource. It is also responsible for most national and international conflicts in the world for many decades and even today. Most oil importing countries such as the USA instigate foreign policies that cause conflicts in the oil exporting countries, thus enabling the USA to swoop in and control their oil reserves. The Oil exporting countries themselves have a great propensity for instigating national and international conflicts as seen in the above points. With this continuing trend, oil could cause an apocalypse end of the world if other new sources of energy are not found.There is also the fact that geography is changing things. Oil is shifting to places that it was not originally available. Given the fact that the countries that originally had oil reservoirs had that much internal conflict, what would happen to countries that did not have the precious black gold but now had access to it? Isnt this an apocalypse in the making?ReferencesAko, R, & Okonmah, P 2009, Minority Rights Issues in Nigeria A metaphysical Analysis of       Historical and Contemporary negates in the Oil-Rich Niger Delta Region, global          ledger On Minority & Group Rights, 16, 1, pp. 53-65,Alao, A. 2007. Natural resources and conflict in Africa The tragedy of endowment. Rochester, NY Univ. of Rochester Press.Alexander, M., & Keiger, J. F. 2002. France and the Algerian War strategy, operations and       diplomacy. Journal of strategical Studies, 25(2), 1-32.Basedau, M, & Wegenast, T 2009, Oil and Diamonds as Causes of Civil War in sub-Saharan    Africa, Colombia Internacional, 70, pp. 35-59,Blomberg, B, Hess, G, & Jackson, J 2009, Terrorism and the Returns to Oil, Economics And    Politics, 21, 3, pp. 409-432,Bradley, M., & Mitnick, J. 2013. Egypt Cancels Israel Gas Deal. Wall Street Journal, 1, 1.Brtland, J 2004, Externalities, Conflict, and Offshore Lands, case-by-case Review, 8, 4, pp.    527-548,Buszynski, L. 2012. The South China Sea Oil, Maritime Claims, and U.S. China Strategic    Rivalry. The uppercase Quarterly, 1, 139-143.Check, N. A., & Mdlongwa, T. 2012. AISA POLICY brief. The Heglig Oil Conflict An            Exercise of Sovereignty or an Act of Aggression?, 78, 3-6.Colgan, J. 2010. Oil and revolutionary governments fuel for international conflict.         global Organization, 64(4), 661-694.Cotet, A, & Tsui, K 2013, Oil and Conflict What Does the Cross Country recount Really      Show?, American Economic Journal Macroeconomics, 5, 1, pp. 49-80,Deffeyes, K. S. 2008. Hubberts measure the impending world oil shortage (New Edition).             Princeton University Press.Ebel, R. E. 2002. The Geopolitics of Energy into the 21st Century. CSIS, upper-case letter DC.E rixon, F., & Brandt, L. 2013. Argentina, the Expropriation of Repsol YPF, and the Case for    Improved Investment Protection Accords. ECIPE Policy Briefs, 08, 1-11.Frynas, J 2001, Corporate and state responses to anti-oil protests in the Niger Delta, African     Affairs, 100, 398, p. 27,Goodstein, D. L. 2005. Out of gas The end of the age of oil. New York., NY W.W. Norton.Heinberg, R. 2005. Partys over Oil, war and the component of industrial societies. Gabriola Island     New Society.Hughes, M. 2005. Logistics and the Chaco War Bolivia versus Paraguay, 1932-1935. The         Journal of Military History, 69(2), 411-437.Humphreys, M. 2005. Natural Resources, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution Uncovering the      Mechanisms. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 49(4), 508-537.Johnson, D. H. 2003. The root causes of Sudans civil wars. African Security Review, 12(2),       115-115.Karl, T. L. 1 997. The paradox of plenty Oil booms and petro-states. Berkeley University of      California Press.Keable, K 2002, Planning offsets inherent risk in developing countries, Offshore, 62, 8, p. 178,Klare, M. T. 2004. Blood and oil The dangers and consequences of Americas growing petroleum dependency. New York Holt.Lyall, J, & Wilson, I 2009, Rage against the Machines Explaining Outcomes in Counterinsurgency Wars, International Organization, 63, 1, pp. 67-106,Manaz, A 2009, Oil And The Middle East Policy, Cag University Journal Of Social      Sciences, 6, 2, pp. 70-83,Newman, E. 2004. The new wars debate a historical perspective is needed. Security    Dialogue, 35(2), 173-189.Newton-Small, J 2013, Blood For Oil, Time, 181, 6, pp. 38-41,Park, C. H. 1978. The south china sea disputes Who owns the islands and the natural    resources?. Ocean Development & International Law, 5(1), 27-59.Roberts, P. 2005. The end of oil On the edge of a perilous new world. Boston, Mass. u.a.         Houghton Mifflin.Ross, M. L. 2012. The oil curse How petroleum wealth shapes the development of nations.        Princeton, N.J Princeton University Press.Stoff, M. B. 1982. Oil, war, and American security The search for a national policy on foreign             oil, 1941-1947. New Haven u.a. Yale Univ. Pr.Todd, R. W. 1982. Alternative energy sources. International Journal of Ambient Energy, 3(2),   69-80.Venn, F. 2002. The oil crisis. London u.a. Longman.1 For example, in the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay annexed a region of Bolivia in the senseless belief that it contained oil deposits (Hughes, 2005). France was reluctant to lose Algeria in the latters was liberty of 1954-62 partly because of Algerias oil deposits, but was unable to defy (Alexander and Keiger, 2002). Similarly, Nigeria was reluctant to lose Biafra in the latters bid f or independence in 1967-70 in large part owing to the local oil deposits, and was able to thwart Biafras attempt at secession (Newman, 2004). The Paracel island clash of 1974, in which China routed Viet Nam in re-establishing its claim to this island group in the South China Sea, was apparently motivated chiefly by the presumed offshore oil deposits (Park, 1978).2 When the country divided in 2011, the most productive oil fields ended up in the South, while the pipeline for transporting the southern oil to international markets remained in the north. They had been demanding much exaggerated fees for the privilege of transporting the southern oil to its markets. The southerners refused to pay such fees, which made the northerners to confiscate money they had already compile from the southern oil exports. This made the southerners to stop producing oil. It made them launch military action against the north. The situation is very explosive to date, caused by the need for oil.3 This hap pened when a Philippine warship arrived at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and detained Chinese angle boats. The Chinese fishermen were accused of illegal fishing activities in Filipino sovereign waters. In response to this, china sent two of their naval ships to the area, claiming that the Philippine warship was harassing Chinese ships in Chinese waters. The fishing ships were allowed to depart without further incident4 This decision to terminate the gas agreement was made as a response to a dispute over the Israeli payments for Egyptian gas. All parties involved interpreted it as part of a drive by Egypts new government to demonstrate greater distance from the ousted Mubarak regime and his policy of cooperation with Israel. The Egyptian-Israeli gas link was the most important outcomes of the 1979 treaty between the two countries. Its annulment signals a period of great conflict. This may cause energy shortages in Israel.5 The government announced that it would take 51% controlling stake in YPF, which was majority-owned by the Repsol YPF, Spains largest energy firm. The seizure of its subsidiary was seen in Madrid as a great threat which had to be combated. The Spaniard government retorted that the Argentinean government had small the climate of cordiality and friendship that presided over the relations between Argentina and Spain. After a few days, the Spaniard government announced that it would stop importing bio fuels from Argentina, its principal supplier.6 These were between Egypt and Libya between Syria and Iraq between the Peoples participatory Republic of Yemen and Saudi Arabia and between Iran and Iraq.7 The USA at first actively provided Israel and Iran with military and other assistance inasmuch as these two countries were considered to be modify forces within the region. The USA concomitantly provided similar assistance to Saudi Arabia and other unprogressive Arab regimes as well as to the nearby states of Somalia and Sudan. One of the justifications put fore by the USA for its military aid to the Middle East and nearby countries was the prevention of Soviet expansion into the region.8 At the time of the so-called camping David accords in 1978 among Egypt, Israel, and the USA provision had been made for the USA to be able to construct two military air bases for Israel in the Negev desert. The presence of the USA on the Sinai Peninsula also permitted a continuation of the installation, improvement, and operation of an early exemplification system.9 Arab countries For example, were provoked into placing embargos against the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.10 Oil income is easily controlled by the central government, thereby giving the leader an independent source of financial resources that can be redistributed to buy political support11 Case examples of conflicts that have been sparked by rebels over oil resources include Nigeria and Sudan to mention but a few.12 Recently, South Sudan and Sudan have been having a lot of boarder conflict that can be attributed to the existence of oil reservoirs that each state believes belong to them.13 In countries like the US, terming oil as a matter of national security means that they may resort to military force in order to protect it14 This is the case in countries such as Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. In other countries such conflict arises in form of political indifferences as is the case in Venezuela.