Thread: Question About Oil,

I was just wondering if anyone here had thought about what is going to happen to the Middle East once much of the world weens itself off of oil. Now, it won't happen tomorrow, it might be twenty to fifty years, but the day is coming that most of the industrialized world stops needing the stuff. America and Europe are both putting more and more money into R&D that will, one day, free us from the clutches of countries like Iran (and yes, I already know that the US doesn't buy from them). But, what will happen when that day finally comes? Will we still care about the Palestinians, what about the Sunnis and Shiites? Will we finally just say "screw it" and let them kill each other off? Once these countries lose their influence over global affairs, what will become of them?

Bosnia. War-torn and useless.

Originally Posted by mdmx96

I was just wondering if anyone here had thought about what is going to happen to the Middle East once much of the world weens itself off of oil. Now, it won't happen tomorrow, it might be twenty to fifty years, but the day is coming that most of the industrialized world stops needing the stuff. America and Europe are both putting more and more money into R&D that will, one day, free us from the clutches of countries like Iran (and yes, I already know that the US doesn't buy from them). But, what will happen when that day finally comes? Will we still care about the Palestinians, what about the Sunnis and Shiites? Will we finally just say "screw it" and let them kill each other off? Once these countries lose their influence over global affairs, what will become of them?

They will turn into another Africa situation, the only difference being that Africa has ALLOT of natural resources besides one major one like oil.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

They will turn into another Africa situation, the only difference being that Africa has ALLOT of natural resources besides one major one like oil.

That was kind of what I was thinking, but at least there is hope for Africa's future. I see absolutely nothing for the Middle East, and yet they still have great potential right now. I really don't think that anyone there actually sees it though.

Originally Posted by mdmx96

I was just wondering if anyone here had thought about what is going to happen to the Middle East once much of the world weens itself off of oil. Now, it won't happen tomorrow, it might be twenty to fifty years, but the day is coming that most of the industrialized world stops needing the stuff. America and Europe are both putting more and more money into R&D that will, one day, free us from the clutches of countries like Iran (and yes, I already know that the US doesn't buy from them). But, what will happen when that day finally comes? Will we still care about the Palestinians, what about the Sunnis and Shiites? Will we finally just say "screw it" and let them kill each other off? Once these countries lose their influence over global affairs, what will become of them?

They will slip into theocracies and dictatorships, oppress their own people, waste what little resources they have on fighting each other, and blame the US and Israel for all of their problems. Kind of like what they are doing now, only worse.

Originally Posted by mdmx96

That was kind of what I was thinking, but at least there is hope for Africa's future. I see absolutely nothing for the Middle East, and yet they still have great potential right now. I really don't think that anyone there actually sees it though.

Middle Eastern countries are in a race against the clock. Their only chance is to use the profits they gain from oil and invest them into alternative fuel sources before it's too late.

Do you know that if the Arab League simply co-operates, they just might rival the West in terms of wealth, influence and in time, military might?

Not in technology. The U.S. is the master of millitary technology.

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Not in technology. The U.S. is the master of millitary technology.

True, nobody will ever "catch up" as long as America remains a strong nation.

Who cares about military technology? There will be less and less conflicts as civilizations evolve. A new war in the EU is already impossible. I think the days of a country thinking it can conquer the world are over, all countries are more and more intertwined in every aspect of their interests (cultural, commercial, touristic...).