The Impact of Resource Rents on the Foreign Policymaking in West Asia

Abstract

The effect of resource wealth on domestic politics has been widely discussed but its impact on foreign policy conduct is scarcely analysed. On the domestic front, rentier states not only have the repressive mechanisms to subdue discontent within its jurisdiction but they can also provide material benefits to its supporters in return for their loyalties. Hence, for resource-rich countries that have not already developed democratic institutions, authoritarianism seems to be a widely expected outcome. Yet, those rentier states may also develop a certain kind of foreign policy that increases the risk of conflict and political tensions in the international arena. Authoritarian regimes fuelled by the income generated by the sale of underground resources can pursue more aggressive policies as envisioned by democratic peace theory. This article attempts to draw a generalized framework on the effects of energy resources on the actions of exporting states while at the same time tries to draw lessons for Turkey, a country located in a troublesome but resource-rich geography.