Oil Weapon: Straw Man or Real Threat? The Internal Mechanism and Potential of This Instrument of Economic Warfare and Its Practical Effects in International Relations

Abstract

During the last few years we have observed great changes in the oil market
along with the growing tendency to use oil as a means for international
politics. There is a need for analysing this situation. In this study the author
shows how the "oil weapon", functions as a mechanism which may
influence foreign policies of the USA and European countries. The text lists
the basic circumstances and conditions that turn oil as a commodity into a
successful mean for economic war. It also shows possible restrictions and
obstructions of such use of oil.