The Caspian Sea’s “Black Gold” Rush

November 19, 2007

The Oil and the Glory—The Pursuit of Empire and Fortune on the Caspian Sea (November 12, 2007)

The Revenue Watch Institute and Open Society recently hosted a reception and discussion with Steve LeVine, author of the book The Oil and the Glory: The Pursuit of Empire and Fortune on the Caspian Sea (Random House).

Remote, forbidding, and volatile, the Caspian Sea long tantalized the world with its vast oil reserves. But outsiders, blocked by the closed Soviet system, couldn’t get into it. Then the Soviet Union collapsed, and a wholesale rush into the region erupted. Along with oilmen, representatives of the world’s leading nations flocked to the Caspian for a share of the 30 billion barrels of proven oil reserves at stake, and a tense geopolitical struggle began.

The main players were Moscow and Washington—the former seeking to retain control of its satellite states, the latter intent on dislodging Russia to the benefit of the West. The Oil and the Glory is a gripping account of the latest phase in the epochal struggle for control of the earth’s “black gold.”

Listen to the event above.

Topics

Economic Justice

Global Tax Justice

UN Moves Toward a Global Treaty on Tax

UN General Assembly, President Dennis Francis, speaking at the UN headquarters with his face appearing on two large screens behind him.

By endorsing a resolution to create a UN treaty on international tax cooperation, developing nations are pushing to address the inequities of a flawed system dominated by the economic interests of the world’s richest countries.

December 4, 2023 | Alvin Mosioma & Maryam H'madoun

Food Security

This Store in Lebanon Sells Hope

A food display outside of a grocery store.

According to the UN, nearly two million people in Lebanon face food insecurity. A local grocery shop is pioneering a new model of social assistance to help engage the community, feed the hungry, and make shopping more affordable and accessible for all.

September 8, 2023 | Mariam Younes

Inside Open Society

The Vital Fight to Advance Equity for All

Inequality hurts workers, degrades democracies and fuels the rise of authoritarianism. By building more inclusive and sustainable economies, Open Society works to improve peoples’ lives—and the governments who serve them.

October 20, 2022 | Laura Carvalho

Subscribe to updates about Open Society’s work around the world

By entering your email address and clicking “Submit,” you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy.