Energy policies and domestic politics in the MENA region in the Aftermath of the Arab Upheavals: The Cases of Lebanon, Libya, and KSA

Abstract

This article is a comparative, exploratory multicase study examining the relationship between domestic politics and national policies in the energy sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Libya. Key research questions are: What are the key factors shaping this relationship in each of these countries and what are the main obstacles to better policy-making processes and outcomes? To understand each country's context, a short overview of the energy profile and the political structure in terms of its legislative, political, and administrative institutions is provided. The study then identifies several challenges that fall under five major categories: political, policy-related, administrative, strategic, and economic challenges. While this study does not focus on the impact the interplay may have on the prospects of democracy in each country, it particularly considers its repercussions in the light of the upheavals in the Middle East and North African region. © The Policy Studies Organization.