Energy Policies and Domestic Politics in the MENA Region in the Aftermath of the Arab Upheavals: The Cases of Lebanon, Libya, and KSA

This article is a comparative, exploratory multicase study examining the relationship between domestic politics and national policies in the energy sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Libya. Key research questions are: What are the key factors shaping this relationship in each of these countries and what are the main obstacles to better policy‐making processes and outcomes? To understand each country's context, a short overview of the energy profile and the political structure in terms of its legislative, political, and administrative institutions is provided. The study then identifies several challenges that fall under five major categories: political, policy‐related, administrative, strategic, and economic challenges. While this study does not focus on the impact the interplay may have on the prospects of democracy in each country, it particularly considers its repercussions in the light of the upheavals in the Middle East and North African region. Related Articles: Sarquis, David J. 2012. “Democratization after the Arab Spring: The Case of Egypt's Political Transition.” Politics & Policy 40 (5): 871‐903. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00381.x/ Luckhurst, Jonathan. 2012. “Governance and Democratization since the 2008 Financial Crisis.” Politics & Policy 40 (5): 958‐977. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00386.x/ Mahler, Annegret. 2011. “Oil in Venezuela: Triggering Conflicts or Ensuring Stability? A Historical Comparative Analysis.” Politics & Policy 39 (4): 583‐611. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00305.x/ Related Media: Film Clips: Global Energy. 2012. “Justin Dargin at the Financial Times Energy Dialogue in Dubai.” November 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2zNqxy32Q0 Ridgwell, Henry. 2013. “US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics.” Voice of America. May 22. http://www.voanews.com/content/us‐oil‐surge‐could‐impact‐mideast‐geopolitics/1665943.html Este artículo constituye un multicaso de estudio comparativo que explora la relación entre política doméstica y políticas nacionales en el sector energético en Arabia Saudita, Líbano y Libia. Las preguntas clave de investigación son: ¿cuáles son los factores clave que moldean esta relación en cada una de las tres naciones? y ¿cuáles son los principales obstáculos al mejoramiento proceso de hechura de políticas y resultados? El estudio procede posteriormente a identificar varios desafíos que clasificamos e