Introduction
Finance ministers from the oil-rich Gulf states of Saudi Arabia (Ibrahim al-Assaf, right) and the United Arab Emirates (Hamdan bin Rashed al-Maktoum, left) arrive in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on May 7, 2011, to discuss economic development with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers. The GCC is awash in oil cash, which the monarchies are spending on public projects to keep regional unrest from spreading to their countries. (AFP/Getty Images/Karim Sahib)
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Known for their towering, ultramodern skyscrapers and jaw-dropping energy reserves, the six Arab monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are striving to improve regional stability amid the turmoil of the Arab Spring. The economic and security coalition — made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with huge fiscal surpluses that are financing, among other things, construction of state-of-the-art facilities for higher education and international sporting events. However, the six Sunni-led Muslim countries — key U.S. military allies — face ongoing unrest from a Shiite majority in Bahrain, uncertainty about the intentions of Shiite regimes in neighboring Iran and Iraq and an unstable Yemen, home to Al Qaeda-linked terrorists. The GCC countries also are struggling to balance their overdependence on foreign labor with the need for more jobs for their huge, youth populations.
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Jun. 22, 2012 |
U.S. Oil Dependence |
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Nov. 01, 2011 |
Future of the Gulf States |
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Jan. 04, 2008 |
Oil Jitters  |
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Jul. 2007 |
Energy Nationalism |
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Sep. 30, 2005 |
Domestic Energy Development |
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Jan. 24, 2003 |
Oil Diplomacy |
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Aug. 07, 1998 |
Oil Production in the 21st Century |
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Aug. 23, 1991 |
Oil Imports |
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Oct. 30, 1987 |
Persian Gulf Oil |
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Apr. 04, 1986 |
Oil Prices |
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Dec. 23, 1983 |
Quest for Energy Independence |
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Sep. 23, 1983 |
OPEC: 10 Years After the Arab Oil Boycott |
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May 29, 1981 |
Western Oil Boom |
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Aug. 25, 1978 |
Oil Imports |
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Feb. 10, 1978 |
Oil Antitrust Action |
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Dec. 17, 1976 |
Alaskan Development |
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May 17, 1974 |
Arab Oil Money |
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Mar. 15, 1974 |
Oil Taxation |
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Jul. 18, 1973 |
Offshore Oil Search |
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Mar. 28, 1973 |
Persian Gulf Oil |
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Nov. 01, 1972 |
Gasoline Prices |
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Oct. 14, 1970 |
Fuel Shortages |
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Nov. 12, 1969 |
Alaskan Oil Boom |
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Dec. 11, 1968 |
Oil Shale Development |
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Oct. 26, 1960 |
World Oil Glut |
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Sep. 10, 1958 |
Middle East Oil |
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Oct. 30, 1951 |
Oil Nationalization |
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Aug. 11, 1950 |
Oil Imports |
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Apr. 23, 1947 |
Oil of the Middle East |
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Jan. 22, 1946 |
Offshore Oil |
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Mar. 09, 1944 |
Oil Supply |
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Dec. 24, 1935 |
Oil in World Politics |
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May 07, 1931 |
Control of Production in the Oil Industry |
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Mar. 27, 1929 |
The Oil Leasing Policy of the New Administration |
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Jun. 08, 1927 |
Oil Conservation and Stabilization |
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Feb. 08, 1926 |
The Mexican Land and Petroleum Laws |
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Apr. 18, 1925 |
The Price of Gasoline |
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Feb. 11, 1924 |
Background of the Oil Lease Cases |
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Sep. 01, 1923 |
Gasoline |
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