How Oil Shaped Post War World Essay

If iodine commodity washbowl claim credit for the startling advances seen in the globe in the twentieth century, in particular in developed industrialized countries, it was crude inunct- before long to be dubbed black gold. Oil became an influential substance in the post warfare times, economically and also in shaping countries foreign policies. Whichever countries controlled rock petroleum controlled much of the worlds policies. After the increase in industrialisation and manufacture in the post war times, crude oil became a must deal resource, for a nation, in revisal for that nation to twist economically and become a self-sustaining state.The first bush-league plaque reiterated the need to invade the Gulf as, a commission to defend our way of life in the form of acquiring and maintaining the supply of cheap oil into the the Statesn interior. Post war rebuild was the main agenda as most nations fought to rebuild their states from the damages sustained during the two World Wars. A drastic rise in the demand for oil in the world became eminent and those nations that held oil resources had substantial advantage over those that did not have easy access to it.In this essay, an outline of the role oil compete in shaping post war worlds will be distinctly discussed showing the various policies implemented by different nations in pose to acquire the imperative resource. The general change from coal energy to oil energy was a catalyst for the increase in the rate of industrialisation. tally to Yergin, Industrialisation sped up rapidly between the years 1949 and 1972. With economic convalescence as the main focus of most nations furbish uped by the catastrophes of some(prenominal) World Wars, oil had a decisive role to play in each of the nations policies.With oil consumption tripling in each and every state, governments had to accommodate for the low death rates which change magnitude population, high employment demand and increase in consumptio n which meant more(prenominal) oil had to be imported in order for general convalescence to be implemented. Japan, regarding the devastation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, is one of the most prominent in wide spread economic recovery quickly declared they were turn from post war recovery in the early 1960s as a result of their adoption of oil for industry.Organisation of the Petroleum merchandise Countries (OPEC) was formed in Baghdad, Iraq on the 14th of September 1960 by Iran, Iraq, capital of capital of Kuwait, Saudi-Arabian Arabia and Venezuela. Its formation was greatheartedly associated with the grievances Arab nations had against the exploitive multinational Oil Companies that were gradually bring down oil prices to suit their Western home lands, had become strengthful inwardly the states they operated in and the oil companies boycott of the decree to nationalise all oil resources by Arab governments.OPEC meant to take over the oil market and have the power to decide for themselves the price and production levels of the resources that were within their nations interior. With the victorious capture of the oil resource by the Middle East nation, came large and untimed variations in price, production levels and the general supply of crude oil to the placidity of the world. United States of the States and other global economies, already hard mat up with other problems, were this instant vulnerable to Middle East oil policies which could affect their nations economies and social well beings.Looking into post war Iraq, Saddam ibn Talal ibn Talal Husseins era was characterised by the need for money to fund his amplification of uniting Arab nations into one nation under his political and Baathist ideologies. Hussein had Iraq export of crude oil as his main source of income merely he met obstacles such as the Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) who had switched the OPEC policies to produce and trade in oil at a fixed rate in ord er to gain demand along as a substantial profit.Kuwait and UAE were now producing more oil than agreed in Baghdad in 1960 which resulted in more supply of oil than demanded thus reducing the price of crude oil to less than $3 a barrel. Saddams retaliation was to threaten Kuwait and UAE with potential usurpation if they did not castigate to the previously agreed policies to stabilise oil prices. Result was a Kuwait confirmation to Saddams demands but however led to a feud for aid funds which led to Iraqi army invasion of Kuwait. Americas invasion of Iraqi territory was highlighted as one of the most controversial foreign policies to have been implemented by the American government.The Persian Gulf War first initiated by president George H. W. Bush and the 2nd Persian Gulf War, implemented by the son of the origin named president George W. Bush formed the most debated policies of post war era. closely studies have come up with their own agreements as to why America decided to adv ance on Iraq with most highlighting the need to set up a constant supply of oil at a valid price, while others studies have put out that America wanted strategical dressing over its allies and rivals, save Russia, of oil seeking nations.Although no(prenominal) have been verified by the American government, it is clear that the main reason for American invasion was for the sole purpose of solidifying American position in the oil market. President George, W. Bush, the then American president, stated himself that the war was, to defend our way of life this could be seen as a take in implication on the need to have oil, a resource that is indispensable in America to support their economy.In conclusion, oil plays a vital role in shaping the world post to the World Wars. It is apparently hard to believe that world recovery from such a destroy war could only take less than 50years leaving very exact sign that there was ever a war to begin with. America remains a major power withi n the world with oil reserves larger than any other nation China now boasts the worlds largest economy and Japan have recovered substantially for a nation that had very little resources to work with.