This book makes a substantial and timely contribution to discussions on energy security in Oman, providing a systematic analysis of energy security in Oman from 1920 to 2020. It is particularly relevant in light of the recent global geopolitics of the Gulf particularly, and the Middle Eastern region broadly, as well as connecting to current climate change research and debates. Combining a political sociological account with postcolonial concepts within a theoretical and empirical exploration of energy politics, the book weaves a study of energy security into the historical and contemporary development of political, economic, security, and social structures in Oman. Including interviews with Omani and Oman-based practitioners, as well as grounded in historical documents which include Arabic-language sources, this book evaluates the energy question beyond the typical economic perspective, considering socio-political opportunities and challenges. It also makes economic-related recommendations in tandem with rentier state theory. Unlike the dominant accounts of energy security in Oman, this book sets itself apart by moving away from utilising liberal and realist approaches for its analysis and engages systematically with critical security studies to introduce a non-Eurocentric perspective to the arena. Of interest to scholars in Middle Eastern history, energy security, and security studies, this book assumes an important place in the critical literature on the Gulf, particularly within environmental studies and energy policy literature.
Author(s): Lamya Harub
Series: Gulf Studies, 6
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 293
City: Singapore
Acknowledgments
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Securitisation of Energy in Discourse and Practice
1.1 Contextualising the Interrelated Themes
1.2 Originality and Contribution to Knowledge
1.3 Book Structure
References
2 The Heterogeneity of ‘Energy Security’
2.1 Approaches to ‘Energy Security’
2.1.1 Realist Approaches
2.1.2 Liberal Approaches
2.1.3 Constructivist Approaches
2.2 Embedding ‘Energy Security’ in Critical Security Studies
2.2.1 The Copenhagen School’s Concept of ‘Security’
2.2.2 The ‘Logic of Emergency’
2.2.3 Securitising Actors and Audiences
2.2.4 Securitisation Beyond Liberal Democracies
2.2.5 The Paris School
2.3 Approaches to Analysing Postcolonial States
2.3.1 Analysing Postcolonial States
2.3.2 Network of Experts
2.3.3 Neoliberalism
2.3.4 Materiality
2.3.5 Approach of this Study
2.3.6 Contribution to Methodology
2.3.7 ‘Energy Security’ and the Omani Context
2.4 Methodology
2.4.1 Discourse and Historical Analysis
2.4.2 Specialised Interviewing
2.4.3 Interview Context
2.4.4 Ethical Considerations
References
3 State Formation, Energy, and Security from 1920 to 1970
3.1 Approaches to Studying State Formation in the Gulf
3.1.1 Political Economy of the Gulf
3.1.2 Rentierism to Late Rentierism
3.1.3 Authoritarianism and Patriarchy
3.1.4 Democratisation of Oil-Producing States
3.2 State Formation, Security, and Oil
3.2.1 Before the Discourse of Energy
3.2.2 Discourse of Oil Begins
3.2.3 Competition Over Concessions
3.2.4 The Affair of the Aitchison Treaties
3.2.5 Consolidation Against the Saudis
3.2.6 Imamate Revolt 1955 to 1960
3.2.7 Instability in Dhofar
References
4 Competition or Cooperation? Energy Discourse During 1970 to 1989
4.1 British–American Competitive Cooperation
4.1.1 Oman’s Link to Britain and America
4.1.2 The Role of Foreign Consultants and Advisors
4.1.3 The 1974 Financial Crisis
4.2 Austerity During the Eighties
4.2.1 Energy Governance
4.2.2 Oil Revenues for Political Alliance
4.2.3 Self-interest Versus the Common Good
References
5 Neoliberalising Energy Post-1990
5.1 Shades of Neoliberalism
5.1.1 Towards Neoliberalisation
5.1.2 Misleading Equations
5.1.3 Discourses of Corruption
5.1.4 The Neoliberal Manifesto
5.1.5 The Rule of Experts
5.2 The ‘Limits of Oil’ as a Security Problem
5.2.1 Shell Scandal
5.2.2 Port and Free-Zone Development
5.2.3 Privatising Electricity
5.2.4 To Diversify, or Not
5.2.5 Celebrating the Security Forces
References
6 Energy and Social Development Post-Bouazizi to 2015
6.1 The ‘Omani Spring’
6.1.1 Before the Escalation
6.1.2 The Bouazizi Effect
6.1.3 Efforts Towards Social Development
6.2 The Materiality of Energy
6.2.1 Pushing Technological Boundaries
6.2.2 Dwindling Oil, Rising Gas
6.2.3 BP’s Social Responsibility
6.2.4 PDO’s Social Depth
6.2.5 Energy and Social Concerns Post-Bouazizi
References
7 Climate Change and Financial Stability, 2015 to 2020
7.1 Oman’s New Renaissance
7.1.1 Economic ‘Bleeding’
7.1.2 Oman Vision 2040
7.1.3 Perhaps a New Course for Oman
7.1.4 Restructuring Through Articulation
7.2 Securitisation of Climate Change Discourses
7.2.1 Toward the Energy Transition
7.2.2 The ‘Gravity of the Present’
7.2.3 Efforts Towards Energy Diversification
7.2.4 Is There an Evolving Vision?
References
8 Conclusion: Oman’s Eclectic Take on ‘Energy Security’
8.1 Filling Theoretical Gaps
8.2 Case Selection
8.3 Methodological Eclecticism
8.4 Sociological Approach
8.5 Scope and Limitations
References
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Bibliography
