First published 2016
Oil drives wealth and sparks conflict across the globe today. Timothy C. Winegard examines how World War I and its aftermath created this reality. His analysis shows oil becoming the crucial commodity for national security and economic success during this period. Nations began conquering territory specifically to control oil fields and resources for the first time in history. These petroleum sources became essential components of industrialized twentieth century warfare. Winegard traces oil's development as both a diplomatic tool and a cause of war. He connects World War I events to modern petroleum politics and international conflicts. The study reveals how oil transformed from a useful resource into the strategic necessity that shapes contemporary global relations.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: Global
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
416 pages · Hardcover · University of Toronto Press