Despite having the largest reserves and forecasts for undiscovered hydrocarbon energy resources in the world, which highlights global energy dependence on the Middle East, a distinct lack of cooperation between regional governments is accompanied by incoherent energy policies and governmental processes that enable trans-regional powers (mainly, Western powers) to dominate resource exploitation and “win the game.” A lack of cooperation between Middle Eastern oil producing countries as well as attendant competition and rivalry allows significant leverage for Western powers to pit one Middle Eastern country against another; thus, permitting Western energy hegemony in the region. Using game theory and a qualitative analytical approach, the authors posit that trans-regional powers, to their advantage, have hegemonic control over regional Middle Eastern powers that maintain the pace of energy production to supply growing demands for predominantly western consumption. The Middle East countries will continue to lose the “game,” especially Iran and Saudi Arabia, if they do not reconcile differences and exploit options for regional cooperation. Such a modification in relations would allow coherent policies and governmental structures to institutionalize and reverse the current trend for extrinsic hegemony.

中文翻译：

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石油霸权体系与博弈论：中东地区与跨地区大国

尽管拥有世界上最大的未开发碳氢能源资源储量和预测，这凸显了全球对中东的能源依赖，但地区政府之间明显缺乏合作，伴随着不连贯的能源政策和政府程序，使跨地区大国成为可能。主要是西方列强）主导资源开发并“赢得比赛”。中东石油生产国之间缺乏合作以及随之而来的竞争和对抗，使得西方列强可以在一个中东国家与另一个国家之间产生重大影响；因此，允许西方在该地区的能源霸权。作者使用博弈论和定性分析方法，假设跨区域权力对他们有利，拥有对中东地区大国的霸权控制，这些大国保持能源生产的步伐，以满足日益增长的西方消费需求。中东国家，尤其是伊朗和沙特阿拉伯，如果不调和分歧并利用区域合作的选择，将继续输掉这场“游戏”。这种关系的改变将使连贯的政策和政府结构制度化并扭转当前的外在霸权趋势。