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The Contradictions Created by China’s Middle East Policies and Role, and Future Development Opportunities

Margulies, Matthew Eric

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, East Asian Languages and Literatures.

China’s continued economic development in the 21st century will be reliant on its ever-increasing oil and natural gas energy needs. The Middle East, the region responsible for the largest share of the production of oil and natural gas in the world, has already become China’s primary energy source. In this position, the stability of the Middle East has a direct and immediate impact on world oil and natural gas prices. In light of the “Arab Spring” revolts starting in December 2010, as well as all of the politically sensitive issues currently threatening Middle East stability, the future stability of the region is still not clear.

Under these circumstances, protecting the stability of the Middle East, and in turn protecting the stability of global energy markets, has become a critical national interest for China. Up to this point in time, China’s primary method for protecting Middle East stability has been to establish a policy of “no-strings-attached” friendly economic ties with all states in the Middle East. The positive influence China has had on the economic development of Middle East states deserves recognition, but this single-track policy has not had nearly significant enough of an impact on preserving or promoting Middle East stability; moreover, this policy has led to ambiguity and contradiction in China’s Middle East policies.

This thesis will analyze how China’s Middle East policies led to its ambiguous and contradictory role in the Middle East. Thereafter, it will provide possible policy suggestions that China can adopt in order to overcome the contradictions currently caused by its policies, while at the same time determining China’s future role and influence in the Middle East.

Jianqi Wang, PhD (Advisor)
Galal Walker, PhD (Committee Member)
64 p.

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Citations

  • Margulies, M. E. (2011). The Contradictions Created by China’s Middle East Policies and Role, and Future Development Opportunities [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1305776212

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Margulies, Matthew. The Contradictions Created by China’s Middle East Policies and Role, and Future Development Opportunities. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1305776212.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Margulies, Matthew. "The Contradictions Created by China’s Middle East Policies and Role, and Future Development Opportunities." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1305776212

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)