Introduction

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are in disarray, and shifts in the field of energy have the potential to drastically affect the course of political and economic developments in the region. Trends in regional politics and international energy are coinciding, with the potential for each to impact the other. While energy is at the heart of any national economy, this is more pronounced in the MENA region than perhaps anywhere else in the world, as energy is central to political power, economic development, and foreign relations in most countries. The need to adapt to changing international energy dynamics confronts policymakers with fundamental challenges. These challenges call into question the very role that energy has thus far played in the political economies of the MENA region. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.