You are listening to Curiosity Curated. I am Zong.

In our rapidly changing world, energy and geopolitics have become deeply intertwined. Nations now view energy not just as a resource but as a critical component of power and security. This interconnection manifests in three key trends: the resurgence of great power competition, the global shift toward clean energy, and the increasing electricity demands of artificial intelligence. Throughout this season, we'll examine how both established and emerging powers navigate these evolving dynamics, highlighting how energy resources fundamentally shape the emerging global order.

In the previous two episodes, we saw how the U.S. shale revolution transformed its global standing and how Russia’s energy-driven geopolitical strategy has evolved significantly over the past two decades.

As we continue to unravel those historical dynamics as told by Daniel Yergin, in this episode, we shift our focus to a region whose fate has been more intertwined with energy than any other: the Middle East. From ancient empires to modern-day conflicts, this episode will explore how oil, history, and a clash of ambitions have continually redrawn the map of the Middle East, leading us to a new and uncertain future.

00:35 Episode Intro

02:23 The Genesis of the Modern Middle East Map

04:43 Complicating Factors: The Arab Revolt & Balfour Declaration

06:51 The Rise of Oil & Its Impact on the Middle East Mapmaking

10:31 Challenges to the Sykes-Picot Map & the Established Order

12:51 The Iranian Revolution (1979)

16:09 Shockwaves & Saudi-Iran Rivalry

20:12 Gulf Wars, Iran’s Nuclear Program & JCPOA

23:24 21st Century Tensions & The Rise of “Eastern Med”

25:41 The Future of the Middle East

Sources:

The New Map by Daniel Yergin

The Troubled Energy Transition: How to Find a Pragmatic Path Forward, Daniel Yergin et al, www.foreignaffairs.com

Music:

“Hold On” by Alabama Shakes

“Who Am I” by Dario Lupo

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