Impact Of Oil On International Politics

In the 21st century, population, resources and environment have become the three prominent issues during the development of economy and society among various countries all over the world. As to resources, especially the issue of sustainable development of petroleum has been the key topic. Since the commercial exploitation of petroleum in the mid-19th century, this kind of black fluid began to boost the progress of human civilization. Its supply and price fluctuation have great influence on people's social life, economic development and the country's security and steadiness. It has been hailed as the"blood"of industrial economy and the"lifeline"of social development.One French official once alleged,"Those who control petroleum will possess the whole world. Because with diesel oil in hand, one can govern the oceans; with petroleum of high-grade, one can govern the sky. If one can own both diesel oil and petroleum, he will take the land under his control. Besides, one can dominate his fellows economically, for he can achieve unexpected treasure from petroleum.Nowadays, petroleum, this fantastic thing, is more attractive than gold, more precious as well."However, the knowledge of the importance of petroleum is not formed instantly. Generally, the extension of its connotation has gone three stages: the common goods, strategic materials and political products. So it has important theoretical value and practical meaning to have a systematic and further research on the course of its extension and the interaction and function of international politics.Setting from the two perspectives of the historical development and the theory of international relations, and from the macro and micro aspects, with the extension of the connotation of petroleum resources as the clue, this essay goes further step by step, trying to show the influence of international politics, especially with the emphasis on the study of the prominence of the strategic meaning of petroleum resources since World War I ,the creation of international petroleum market after World War II and the challenge between the two large international petroleum organizations; making efforts to master the specific properties, essence and developing tendency in the three stages of petroleum resources as common goods, strategic material and political products; analyzing some negative factors which the petroleum resources produce on the up-date world economy and national security. In addition, in view of the existing situation of the petroleum security of our country, the essay puts forth some rough measures so that we can explain the importance of resources security and the historical stages during its development.