After the discovery of oil in the 1930s, the Gulf monarchies—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain—went from being among the world’s poorest and most isolated places to some of its most ostentatiously wealthy. To maintain support, the ruling sheikhs provide their subjects with boundless cheap energy, unwittingly leading to some of the highest consumption rates on earth. Today, as summertime temperatures set new records, the Gulf’s rulers find themselves caught in a dilemma: can they curb their profligacy without jeopardizing the survival of some of the world’s last absolute monarchies?

In Energy Kingdoms, Jim Krane takes readers inside these monarchies to consider their conundrum. He traces the history of the Gulf states’ energy use and policies, looking in particular at how energy subsidies have distorted demand. Oil exports are the lifeblood of their political-economic systems—and the basis of their strategic importance—but domestic consumption has begun eating into exports while climate change threatens to render their desert region uninhabitable. At risk are the sheikhdoms’ way of life, their relations with their Western protectors, and their political stability in a chaotic region. Backed by rich fieldwork and deep knowledge of the region, Krane expertly lays out the hard choices that Gulf leaders face to keep their states viable.

"A fascinating look at the double-edged sword that is the Gulf monarchies' greatest resource." - Science

"A concise history of the region’s oil and gas boom and its consequences with an illuminating critique of the two main political science theories that have attempted to explain what oil riches mean for the region’s politics." - Bloomberg Opinion

"Energy Kingdoms should be an essential read for anybody concerned about the future of the Gulf." - Arab News

"Energy Kingdoms is an outstanding work for those wanting to better understand the Gulf Arab oil-producing states." - Energy Reporters

"Ultimately, the clarity of the book's central arguments and its well-researched economic analysis make it unmissable for anyone interested in the Gulf's political and economic future." - Petroleum Economist

"Energy Kingdoms is obviously relevant for any researcher interested in energy policy in the GCC, but it also delivers insights for those interested in related energy policy contexts beyond the region. Krane weaves the history, characters, culture, geopolitics, and domestic politics into a rich and insightful story about how these states evolved and the quandaries they now face." - Energy Journal

"Energy Kingdoms offers a superb panorama of the political economies of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. . . Essential." - Choice

"Energy Kingdoms is a must read for anyone wanting to understand oil and political economy in the Gulf. For those without a background in the area, Krane’s use of jargon is minimal and the concepts he develops easy to understand." - Middle East Journal