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“Energy Policy in the Middle East” explores the energy market in the Middle East and their relationships globally. Conversations in class mainly revolved around the roles oil and natural gas play in shaping the geopolitical landscape within the region. One of the takeaways from this course was the ongoing energy transition in the Middle East as a result of the global push towards renewable energies. Therefore, the themes of sustainability, environmental awareness and pursuing carbon neutrality were often discussed, echoing a significant shift in the traditional energy paradigm dominated by fossil fuels. An example that was brought up was Qatar’s approach towards energy policy and infrastructure development, exploring Qatar’s priority in sustainability during the FIFA World Cup 2022, and their efforts in avoiding “white elephants.” This resonates with the evolving global awareness of the environmental impact of mega events. Moreover, we explored Saudi Arabia's ambitions in diversifying their energy source and their efforts in investing in renewable projects and initiatives, which align with the themes that concern this course. Discussions that explore Saudi Arabia’s response to the Ukraine war and the oil supply cuts demonstrate how nations aim to balance its economic interest with the broader goal of maintaining global stability. Mohammed Bin Salman asserting neutrality and emphasizing the intention behind the supply cuts, suggesting that it is for the benefit to the global economy rather than showing support for Russia, reflects the complexities of geopolitical dynamics. In addition, it is important to address the involvement of the United States in the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel considering its broader implications for the development of the nuclear power plant in Saudi Arabia. It was interesting unraveling the impacts of the conditions imposed by the US on nuclear projects in Saudi Arabia, seeing how Saudi Arabia reacted by considering the Chinese bid. To summarize, this course was extremely insightful and shed light on the interconnectedness of energy dynamics, geopolitics and environmental considerations in the Middle East.
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