College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Graduation Date

8-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Department/Program Conferring Degree

International Studies

Keywords

rentier state, oil, Saudi Arabia, Iran, authorization

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between oil and the persistence of authoritarianism in the Middle East. Specifically, it analyzes and critiques the rentier state theory and argues that oil is one of several other, arguably more consequential, factors (political structures, religion, history/actions of external actors, and state mechanisms and strategies) that account for the persistence of authoritarianism in the Middle East

Share

COinS