The West Asia has always been in limelight because of energy, religion and geographical proximity, conflicts, wars, and their economies. The resource-rich region attracted outside powers, including Europeans, Russians, and Americans, Chinese, particularly since the discovery of oil at the beginning of the twentieth century. Oil, trade routes, geography and terrain, faith and ideology, all contribute to the strategic importance of the Middle East called by western scholar. The Middle East is the world largest oil producing region, accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proved reserves. Due to abundant available of natural resources, all the great powers are involved in the affairs of the region. India's interest in the region is also vital. The important factor that shapes India's foreign policy is socio-cultural affinity, energy import and labour supply to the Gulf region. India has been heavily dependent on energy supplies from the region, while Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial, if not a dominant, share of the regional labor market. To be sure, this relationship has been mutually advantageous. All these issues have been deeply examined by the few young minds and scholars who have specialized understanding and deep study in the region. Indeed, this book will contribute immensely in the domain of knowledge especially in regional studies program, and more specifically to West Asian region. This book will be of great significance to policy makers, Area specialists, research scholars, academicians, and general readers al... See more
The West Asia has always been in limelight because of energy, religion and geographical proximity, conflicts, wars, and their economies. The resource-rich region attracted outside powers, including Europeans, Russians, and Americans, Chinese, particularly since the discovery of oil at the beginning of the twentieth century. Oil, trade routes, geography and terrain, faith and ideology, all contribute to the strategic importance of the Middle East called by western scholar. The Middle East is the world largest oil producing region, accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proved reserves. Due to abundant available of natural resources, all the great powers are involved in the affairs of the region. India's interest in the region is also vital. The important factor that shapes India's foreign policy is socio-cultural affinity, energy import and labour supply to the Gulf region. India has been heavily dependent on energy supplies from the region, while Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial, if not a dominant, share of the regional labor market. To be sure, this relationship has been mutually advantageous. All these issues have been deeply examined by the few young minds and scholars who have specialized understanding and deep study in the region. Indeed, this book will contribute immensely in the domain of knowledge especially in regional studies program, and more specifically to West Asian region. This book will be of great significance to policy makers, Area specialists, research scholars, academicians, and general readers alike. This book would in fact unearth several important issues and new challenges that are emerging in the region.
