“The Rise of the Oil Kingdoms,” which, in this case, refers to the countries of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. There is no doubt that oil has played a vital role in the development of these countries, as well as that of other states in the Middle East. What impact has the discovery had on the geopolitics of the Middle East? If oil had not been found in this region, would the Middle East still play a vital role in world affairs? Why or why not? If the world eventually becomes reliant on alternative sources of energy, will the Middle East become more or less stable? Why?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.

Nationalism is defined in Politics of the Middle East as the desire of a state to be free from foreign rule in favor of its own self-determination. Nationalism in the Middle East has been a critical aspect of the history of the region, which was primarily dominated by various empires (as we discussed in Week One). For this discussion, select one of the four countries studied this week and analyze the impact that nationalism had on its development as an independent state. What role did Western countries have in the emergence of nationalism in the state you selected? Has the formation of independent states in the region increased or decreased political stability there? Why?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.

The countries to choose from are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait