When countries discover that they possess large deposits of oil and natural gas, the news is usually welcome. Yet, paradoxically, if they rely on their wealth of natural resources, they often set down a path of poor economic performance and governance challenges. Only a few resource-rich countries have managed to develop their economies fully and provide a better and sustainable standard of living for large segments of their populations. This phenomenon, known as the resource curse, is a core challenge for energy-exporting states. Beyond the Resource Curse focuses on this relationship between natural wealth and economic security, discussing the particular pitfalls and consistent perils facing oil- and gas-exporting states.
The contributors to this volume look beyond the standard fields of research related to the resource curse. They also shed new light on the specific developmental problems of resource-rich exporting states around the globe, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, East Timor, Iran, Norway, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Policy makers and academics think of energy security solely in terms of the interests of energy importers. Beyond the Resource Curse shows that the constant volatility in energy markets creates energy security challenges for exporters as well.

Beyond the Resource Curse focuses on the paradoxical relationship between natural wealth and economic security and examines the particular pitfalls and consistent problems facing oil and gas exporting states and contributes to a better comprehension of the perils of oil and gas export.

About the Author
Brenda Shaffer is Senior Lecturer in the School of Political Science at the University of Haifa. She is the author of many books, including Energy Politics, also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Taleh Ziyadov is Research Fellow at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Reviews
"Beyond the Resource Curse foursquarely addresses the question of what resources can do-or not do-for a country. The novelty of the data-the contributors treat a broad array of cases that are seldom thought about-along with the freshness of the analysis and the eclectic mix of topics and countries discussed, makes this a truly refreshing volume." * Svante Cornell, Johns Hopkins University *



Book Information
ISBN 9780812244007
Author Brenda Shaffer
Format Hardback
Page Count 512
Imprint University of Pennsylvania Press
Publisher University of Pennsylvania Press