Jihad vs. McWorld - Benjamin R. Barber [35]
Mineral and Energy Resources: Jihad or McWorld?
WITH RESPECT TO McWorld, the clearest conclusion that can be drawn from this review is that the integrating forces of interdependence associated with globalism actually reinforce the fragmenting tendencies of Jihad they seem to combat. For mineral and energy use patterns seem both to enhance interdependence by reinforcing the imperative for global cooperation and to underscore divisiveness, injustice, and weakness, disclosing the susceptibility of the new world economy to the forces of Jihad. The vulnerability of the developed countries’ emerging McWorld is thrown into sharp relief by asking how many of the world’s primary energy producers outside the OECD are likely candidates for Jihad and its associated pathologies: that is, how many seem ripe for episodes of internal turmoil, political instability, civil war, or tribal fragmentation. (See risk tables) Among Jihad-prone producers, we can surely count Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, and ex-Yugoslavia as high-risk; moderate-risk nations—would you invest your children’s savings in any of the following?—include Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Albania, Romania, the republics of the former USSR, Angola, Cameroon, the Congo, Gabon, China, India, Malaysia, and Mexico, and of course the rest of the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. In 1991, the high-risk group accounted for almost 8 million barrels per day of 60 million worldwide; that is about 13 percent of the world’s oil production.
JIHAD AND OIL PRODUCTION: RISKS
High-and moderate-risk oil-producing nations and Jihad.
These are final numbers for world oil production for 1992.
Numbers are in 1,000 barrels/day. Total world production:
60,029.4 (thousand barrels/day).
High Risk
Algeria 771.3
Iran 3,415.3
Iraq 417.3
Libya 1,468.7
Nigeria 1,887.0
Yugoslavia 22.2
TOTAL 7,981.8 (thousand barrels/day)
13.30 percent of the total world production of oil is occurring in nations that are either currently involved in an ethnic conflict or are at a high risk for future conflicts.
Moderate Risk
Albania 30.0
Angola 553.2
Argentina 554.3
Brazil 640.7
Cameroon 139.0
China 2,833.6
Commonwealth of Independent States* 8,898.8
Congo 182.7
Egypt 870.7
Gabon 302.7
India 573.8
Kuwait 845.3
Malaysia 661.0
Mexico 2,775.7
Oman 729.0
Peru 115.7
Romania 140.0
Saudi Arabia 8,206.7
United Arab Emirates** 2,337.2
Venezuela 2,328.7
TOTAL 33,718.8 (thousand barrels/day)
56.17 percent of the total world production of oil is occurring in nations that are at a moderate risk for future ethnic conflicts.
GRAND TOTAL ________
41,700.6 (thousand barrels/day)
69.47 percent of the total world production of oil is occurring in nations that are at a high and moderate risk for current or future ethnic conflicts.
Source: The International Petroleum Encyclopedia (Tulsa: PennWell Publishing Company, 1993).
*Commonwealth of Independent States
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
**United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Osujara, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm al-Quaiwain
JIHAD AND OIL RESERVES: RISKS
A worldwide look at proven oil reserves. (Proven oil reserves = amount of oil recoverable at current prices with current technology.) These are final numbers for January 1, 1993.
Numbers are in billion barrels. Total world oil reserves: 997.04 billion barrels.
High Risk
Oil Reserves Percentage of World Oil Reserves
Algeria 9.20 0.92
Iran 92.86 9.31
Iraq 100.00 10.03
Libya 22.80 2.29
Nigeria 17.90 1.80
Yugoslavia 0.08 0.008
TOTAL 242.84