Authors:

Baruna Kumar Behera, Ritesh Kumar Pradhan

Abstract:

The Middle East occupies a central position in the global energy order, serving as both the nucleus of hydrocarbon wealth and a site of persistent geopolitical competition. This paper analyzes the hierarchical structure of the region’s energy sector through the lens of Realist theory, emphasizing the distribution of power, the pursuit of national interest, and the asymmetries that define state behaviour. It argues that energy in the Middle East is not merely an economic resource but a strategic instrument of power, shaping hierarchies among regional and global actors. By examining OPEC dynamics, rentier‑state structures, and external interventions by powers such as the United States, Russia, and China, the paper shows that the regional energy system operates under a multilayered hierarchy in which resource control and security imperatives reinforce dependency and dominance. Empirical data on production, exports, and alliances illustrate that while Saudi Arabia remains the apex power of this hierarchy, emerging actors such as Qatar and the UAE are recalibrating the regional balance. The study concludes that the energy hierarchy in the Middle East is both a product and a perpetuator of Realist logic, anchored in the pursuit of survival, power, and influence within an anarchic international system.

Keywords:

Energy, Middle East, hierarchy, Realism, rentier state, power asymmetry

Vol & Issue:

VOL.17, ISSUE No.4, December 2025