Petróleo e hegemonia: a política externa estadunidense para o Oriente Médio nos governos George W. Bush (2001-2008) e Barack Obama (2009-2016)

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the U.S. foreign policy for the Middle East in the governments of George W. Bush (2001-2008) and Barack Obama (2009-2016). It intends to examine petroleum as a fundamental instrument for the exercise and conquest of American hegemony and, therefore, the main target of the policies implemented by the United States in the Middle East - the region that holds the largest share of proven oil reserves in the world. The major oil producers have the resource of the contemporary economies' development and, nevertheless, they are subjected to the hegemony of a power comparatively lacking in this resource. The strategy adopted by the United States in the region may be discussed, as well as the relative low development of the oil producing countries within the global economic dynamics. It is concluded that divide et impera (divide and rule) is a long-standing strategy carried out by the United States in the Middle East. According to this strategy, conflict plays a central role in a broad domain project. Thus, in general, the oil producers of the Middle East are submitted to the instability resulting from the strategy implemented by Washington. In addition, these producers are limited by the so-called "oil curse". Finally, it should be noted that the alignment of the United States with Saudi Arabia (the country with the greatest market power in international oil trade) contributes to the effectiveness of the U.S. strategy.