Joka wrote:Because the west only dominates economically with the petrodollar militarily which has forced many nations to use dollar denominated trading of oil in dollars only.
(Even nations whose currencies are not the dollar. )
Without the militarily enforced petrodollar the west is toast economically.
There are many non-Western countries that are major economic powers. Japan is the third largest economy in the world and it is not a Western power. Japan also has a very sensible foreign policy with respect to the Middle East. You could argue that because the Japanese are part of the Anglo-American world order they are in a sense a Western power, but that is only because they are in an alliance with the United States.
Chinese living standards are going up every year. Compare the life of the average Chinese citizen now to how it was in 1979 when they introduced market reforms. There is no comparison.
A country can enjoy economic power and a high standard of living without needing to be tied to petro dollars.
Pants-of-dog wrote:That is because they want to control the sale of the product when they buy the product; in this case, oil. They do not want to be buying oil in a free market from a vendor who can take their business elsewhere or charge more. They want to control both sides of the transaction so that they get the best deal.
That is how international capitalism works between the west and developing countries.
They may want it but it may well be in their interest to stop wanting it. Afterall, the Chinese do not control the supply of energy in the Middle East but they can still exist comfortably. The vast majority of countries don't either. Its only England,the US and a few European countries that have the major oil interests in the Islamic world.
B0ycey wrote:The short answer is if the Middle Eastern Leaders are Western allies then the ME oil contracts will go to Western oil companies and not Chinese or Russian competitors. Control over oil is very important for industrial nations and oil is very profitable too. So the West want control over this vital resource.
But is it really worth the trouble? Personally I cannot be bothered.
B0ycey wrote:Two reasons. China is very wealthy and have decided to have their fingers in African mineral resources instead. So they can afford to not intervene in the ME which is a very unstable region and likely to cost to protect their interests if they took such a route (so basically China are smart). The second reason, China aren't interested in world dominance as long as the world doesn't interfere in their politics. And I suppose third they will be more than happy to get their oil from Iran too.
So why don't we also get our oil from Iran?
And the Chinese do not invade those African countries. They just set up outposts where they send their businessmen and labourers. In fact Chinese investment has been relatively positive for African countries.
B0ycey wrote:Well I agree. And morally you are correct. And perhaps if the US fracking industry was as lucrative in 2001 as it is now they probably might not have even entered Iraq (Afghanistan was for revenge), but as I said earlier, the West want oil contracts to go to their oil companies. They don't want them to go to Russia or China. So I doubt the West would ever just leave the ME alone. There is a reason why the US and the UK are Saudi poodles.
Essentially I think we Westerners are stupid! Its all based on ego and a tremendous will to power. We could live comfortably without needing to do any of this.
The idea that we would all suddenly turn into paupers if we stopped ruining an Arab country every five years has no basis in fact or reality.