ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces analytical dimensions of renewable energy policy in resource-rich Arab countries. It introduces those elements that will guide the analysis in the two case studies. The chapter discusses only transnational trends and challenges that are of relevance for the case study analysis. Renewable energy policy always takes place in the context of national political systems as they relate to wider landscape-level phenomena, which cannot easily be altered by system actors. Henry and Springborg conceptualize the difference between Arab states by distinguishing between four categories of Middle Eastern political systems: bully praetorian republics, bunker states, globalizing monarchies and fragmented democracies. On the landscape level, policy is co-designed by governance bodies whose role transcends national policy making. The organisation of petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) is arguably the most well-known energy cartel worldwide. OAPEC is mainly limited to commercial oil cooperation in the Arab upstream and downstream sectors.
