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THE ANCIENT Chinese philosopher Mencius once said, “A state without an enemy or external peril is absolutely doomed.” Today, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is not faced with one enemy but a growing number of enemies.
There has been widespread debate regarding the environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing, especially concerns about ground water contamination. The shale oil and gas industry is built on the technology of hydraulic fracturing, and it has made vast amounts of oil and gas shale resources extractable at reasonable costs.
With the US Presidential elections set to take place in a year’s time and with the growing disillusionment with the Obama administration and troubles in the region; to the GCC, understanding who may win is of vital importance.
The Syrian conflict continues to deteriorate, with estimates suggesting a death toll in excess of 300,000, in addition to millions of refugees. The conflict has been extremely internationalized, not just in terms of the diplomatic attention that it has attracted, but also...
The surge in shale oil supply has changed previous perceptions of oil market dynamics. The US shale oil industry succeeded in doubling US oil output in a few years, specifically after the 2008 financial crisis and up to 2014.
The Gulf countries are taking steps toward monetary union. The continuing Greek debt crisis has caused major problems for the European single currency. It also presents useful lessons for the Gulf countries as they plan their own single currency.
In July 2015, the P5 + 1 countries reached a deal on the Iranian nuclear program and on the lifting of economic sanctions imposed upon Iran. This important development in Middle Eastern strategy led to extensive commentary from many different stakeholders, including the governments of the US, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
In recent years, there has been a plethora of programs on sustainable development due to the manifest necessity to safeguard various forms of resources for the future stakeholders and to provide a route for development and growth that is rooted on the premise of positive conservation...
A quarterly publication that provides an overview of the current state of the Bahraini economy and analyzes it. In the “Policy Focus” section, the report analyzes an important current issue faced by policymakers and provides recommendations.
Indubitably, the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, which was signed between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Vienna on July 14, 2015, did not end the controversy over the former’s nuclear program.
The Chinese economy is undergoing major reforms in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. These reforms aim to help the Chinese economy maintain its previous growth trends. Yet in a low oil price environment, some challenges arise with regards to China’s energy security.
The hot climate of Bahrain, together with the rising rate of population growth, rapidly rising incomes and the dependence on the hydrocarbon sector, have caused energy consumption to rise sharply over the past couple of decades. According to the Bahrain Central Informatics Organization...
The Greek debt crisis has been a staple of world news since 2009; everywhere you look is another headline shedding light on the crisis or announcing another twist in the seemingly never ending saga.
In May 2015, the Russian government removed political and legal barriers to the sale of the S-300 missile system to Iran, paving the way for a commercial agreement and subsequent delivery.
Beyond posing an existential threat to the European project, the Greek debt crisis has turned into a public-relations disaster for the process of European integration.
Bahrain currently produces all of it electricity from fossil fuel sources: around 85% of electricity is produced from natural gas, and 15% is produced from oil, with five power stations being used (Figure 1).
“Derasat” held a closed seminar with the title “The Iranian Nuclear Deal” with the aim of encouraging debate and dialogue, and to clarify its various aspects.
As he basked in the glory of an unexpectedly strong victory in the 2015 UK General Election, Prime Minister David Cameron could reflect upon an especially rare occurrence: the incumbent party strengthening its Parliamentary position after a first term.
For many observers, the elections were more of a referendum on whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can introduce constitutional changes to place the country on a different course.
Virtual water is a relatively new concept that emerged in the mid-nineties. Virtual water is the amount of water consumed for the production of agricultural commodities which are then exported to water scarce areas, thus international food trade can be seen as trade in virtual water.
