“Hegemonic powers have always been trying to increase their control over the world economy and financial system by dominating energy resources and market trends,” Servati said.
Radio Goftgoo's "Political Dialogue" program aired on "US Energy Security Assessment in West Asia and the International System," with Dr. Hadi Servati, the Iranian political and security expert and university professor.
Hadi Servati stated that energy plays an extremely determining role in development and improvement of the societies; “Energy enables us to chart the path of progress and development in different components. The emersion of fossil fuels sparked two waves of industrial revolution in Europe.”
He pointed that the world changed with the discovery of oil as an energy resource; “The discovery of oil led to the growth and development of countries, since these countries had to use energy for development and to grow their industry. Therefore, the role of energy in human welfare and development is irreplaceable.”
In this interview with Radio Goftogoo, the political and security expert noted that the emergence of energy led the major powers, including the United States, to exercise their hegemony in the world, and thus to increase their control over the world economy and financial system.
He stressed that those countries with energy resources, such as oil and gas, initially had a geopolitical role; “Not only did they retain their geopolitical role, but they also developed a geo-economic and geo-strategic role. For example, the Middle East, as a rich source of energy on the periphery of the heart of the earth, came to find special conditions.”
“Hegemonic powers seek to dominate energy-rich countries: The importance of energy and energy security increased as many countries with energy reserves became independent and actually moved towards development,” Servati said.
“The process of development and industrialization in countries with energy reserves, which is a step towards prosperity, has caused many countries to need more energy," he continued. “This need has increased, and is still increasing in the post-industrial era, especially after World War II.”
He pointed to China and India as two energy-seeking countries and said; “In the late twentieth century, these emerging countries in the field of power, began the process of development and industrialization quickly and have been the largest demanders of energy.”
The Iranian expert on political and security affairs stated that the issue of energy security was raised after the Arab-Israeli war; “Following this war and the oil embargo, there were problems in oil exports from 1943 onwards. At the time, this was a warning for countries, and they realized that they would be in trouble if oil and raw materials were not exported to industrialized countries.”
In his interview with Goftogoo Radio, Hadi Servati mentioned that some countries offered solutions to the crisis in which oil and energy exports is to be stopped; “For instance, Japan presented a 'comprehensive security' plan in this regard. Thus, the issue of energy security dates back to the 1970s, but the need for it has become more acute in recent years, and naturally, superior and emerging powers have accordingly set specific goals.”
The Iranian university professor then spoke of new and renewable energies; “Despite the emersion of this type of energy, including nuclear energy, oil and gas still stand high in the providing the necessary energy. Recent researches indicate that the need for oil and gas is still increasing since the process of industrialization is not the same in all countries.”
“Although some of the pioneers of the Third World, such as China and India, are in the process of industrialization and are emerging as new superpowers, but many countries have not yet reached the desired point in the development process and remain to be in excessive need of oil and gas,” he added.
By Zahra Judaki
