Amit's Blog

The Black Curse: Oil, Imperialism, and the Truncated Destiny of the Middle East  Between the late 19th century and the mid-1950s, the Middle East was tragically reshaped by the insatiable Western demand for oil and the ruthless pursuit of imperial dominance. The decline of the Ottoman Empire opened a geopolitical vacuum, swiftly filled by European powers like Britain and France, later joined by the United States. Through clandestine agreements like Sykes-Picot, exploitative concessions such as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's 86% share, and overt interventions, including the 1953 Iranian coup, these powers carved up the region, drew arbitrary borders, and propped up compliant autocracies. This era of energy greed and strategic maneuvering created artificial states like Iraq, suppressed indigenous self-determination for groups like the Kurds, and sowed the seeds of enduring ethnic, sectarian, and political instability. The legacy of this period is a Middle East perpetually grappling ...

Nigeria’s Oil and Ore Orgy: A Geopolitical Soap Opera in West Africa Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is a geopolitical hotspot where oil, gas, and emerging minerals like lithium fuel global rivalries and local dramas. The U.S., China, Europe, and India scramble for influence, drawn by Nigeria’s vast crude reserves, natural gas, and critical minerals vital for energy and tech. The Niger Delta’s unrest, Boko Haram’s insurgency, and corruption keep the stakes high, while Nigeria yearns to diversify from oil dependency. Over the past 15 years, economic growth has been erratic, with reforms struggling against systemic graft. By 2030, Nigeria could leverage its resources for prosperity if it tames corruption and insecurity. This analysis dives into Nigeria’s perspective, foreign players’ moves, key minerals, investments, arms trade, neighboring roles, and the top 10 global companies, spiced with humor and  expert quotes to unpack this wild West African saga. Introduction: Ni...