Why Is Oil A Blessing And A Curse?
Oil as Both a Blessing and a Curse in the Middle East
As global society enters an era where oil is no longer the dominant source of energy, many oil producing countries face a challenge dealing with the loss of what is often their most profitable export. Many nations developed modern infrastructure mainly through oil profits. Years of interference by western countries seeking oil profits greatly influenced the development of governments, occasionally for better, but usually for worse. While most western nations developed over the course of many years, from a wide variety of exports, the Middle East did not experience the same industrial revolutions seen in the west. The modern Middle Eastern nations seen today gained power with the discovery …show more content…
This nation has the highest per capita income in the world, and the second highest gross domestic product (CIA). Although partially attributed to Qatar’s small size, this is mainly due to the oil industry. Its roads and other infrastructure projects are remarkably well managed, but the massive economic growth brought about by oil made Qatar’s quick transition into modernity possible. Most Qatari nationals experience a high quality of life, with access to western products and a large consumer culture fueled by the oil wealth. Yet, Qatar lacks most of the resources traditionally required to create a modern nation; before the discovery of oil, its main exports were pearls and purple dye. Additionally, sustaining life is a challenge, with only 5.65% of Qatari land suitable for farming and fresh water often unavailable without treatment, so expensive food imports and water treatment paid for by oil profits keep the workforce ready. Without oil, Qatar would be nothing, but this is no more a blessing than “amber waves of grain” are for the U.S.. Any country requires resources to feed its people; America grew into a modern nation partially thanks to a growing workforce of healthy young people sustained by massive grain operations in the midwest. For Qatar, domestic food growth was not an option, so it used the one resource it had, oil. Unlike many other Middle Eastern nations, fallen into war or revolution because of western interference in the oil industry and unjust distribution of oil wealth, Qatar manages its profits well, nationalizing its production, which theoretically allows all Qatari people a share of the money. Oil cannot be seen as a blessing, rather, just a natural resource, without which, as with any other natural resource so important to a nation’s economy, Qatar would not have
As global society enters an era where oil is no longer the dominant source of energy, many oil producing countries face a challenge dealing with the loss of what is often their most profitable export. Many nations developed modern infrastructure mainly through oil profits. Years of interference by western countries seeking oil profits greatly influenced the development of governments, occasionally for better, but usually for worse. While most western nations developed over the course of many years, from a wide variety of exports, the Middle East did not experience the same industrial revolutions seen in the west. The modern Middle Eastern nations seen today gained power with the discovery …show more content…
This nation has the highest per capita income in the world, and the second highest gross domestic product (CIA). Although partially attributed to Qatar’s small size, this is mainly due to the oil industry. Its roads and other infrastructure projects are remarkably well managed, but the massive economic growth brought about by oil made Qatar’s quick transition into modernity possible. Most Qatari nationals experience a high quality of life, with access to western products and a large consumer culture fueled by the oil wealth. Yet, Qatar lacks most of the resources traditionally required to create a modern nation; before the discovery of oil, its main exports were pearls and purple dye. Additionally, sustaining life is a challenge, with only 5.65% of Qatari land suitable for farming and fresh water often unavailable without treatment, so expensive food imports and water treatment paid for by oil profits keep the workforce ready. Without oil, Qatar would be nothing, but this is no more a blessing than “amber waves of grain” are for the U.S.. Any country requires resources to feed its people; America grew into a modern nation partially thanks to a growing workforce of healthy young people sustained by massive grain operations in the midwest. For Qatar, domestic food growth was not an option, so it used the one resource it had, oil. Unlike many other Middle Eastern nations, fallen into war or revolution because of western interference in the oil industry and unjust distribution of oil wealth, Qatar manages its profits well, nationalizing its production, which theoretically allows all Qatari people a share of the money. Oil cannot be seen as a blessing, rather, just a natural resource, without which, as with any other natural resource so important to a nation’s economy, Qatar would not have