Including maps, statistics, essays and a A-Z of key terms, this title provides a valuable background to the political issues involved in the oil industry.

Bülent Gökay is Professor of International Relations and Head of the School of Politics, International Relations and the Environment (SPIRE) at Keele University, UK. He is the author (and co-author) of many books on global politics and oil, including The Politics of Caspian Oil (2001), 11 September 2001: War, Terror and Judgement (2003) and The New American Imperialism: Bush's War on Terror and Blood for Oil (2005, with Vassilis K. Fouskas).

1. Essays: 1. Introduction: How Oil Fuels World Politics; 2. As Good as Gold: Oil and Global Political Economy Darrell Whitman; 3. Geopolitics of oil and Pipelines in the (Eurasian) Heartland Emre Iseri; 4. Oil and Power in the Caspian Sea Region: Supermajor Oil Companies and Geopolitics E.K. Mofford; 5. Oil in Flames: 'Production Sharing Agreements' (PSAs) and the Issue of 'Petroleum Nationalism' in Iraq Vassilis K. Fouskas; 6. Oil and Islam - Economic Distress and Political Opposition Øystein Noreng; 7. Oil Politics and Environmental Conflict: The Case of the Niger Delta, Nigeria Chukwumerije Okereke;2. A-Z Glossary; 3. Maps; 4. Statistics; 5. Select Bibliography.