Thesis

In 1938, soon after the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest oil reserves in the world were found in Dhahran. This discovery was a turning point for the Al Saud royal family, because they used it to initiate their ascent to incredible wealth and global influence. However, there was the unintended consequence of increasing the corruption within their government. The concentration of wealth and power in the royals has also led to international conflicts over access to that oil and who gets to benefit from its profits. The vast amounts of oil itself have allowed for further industrialization across the world, but they have also contributed to the rising environmental issue.