Saudi Arabia, with its US alliance and abundance of oil dollars, has a very different economic story to that of Iran, which despite enormous natural gas reserves, has been hit hard by economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions since its 1979 revolution. Robert Mason looks at the effect that economic considerations (such as oil, gas, sanctions, trade and investment) have had on foreign policy decision-making processes and diplomatic activities. By examining the foreign policies of Saudi Arabia and Iran towards each other, and towards the wider Middle East and beyond, Mason seeks to highlight how oil policy, including oil production, pricing and security of supply and demand, is the paramount economic factor which drives the diplomacy and rivalry of these two pivotal regional powers. His book thus offers vital analysis for researchers of international relations in the Middle East and the processes involved in the formation of foreign policy.

Chapter One: Conceptualising Economic Factors in Middle East Foreign PoliciesChapter Two: The Shaping Factors of Conflict and Containment in Saudi and Iranian Foreign PolicyChapter Three: Saudi Foreign Policy: Oil, Wahabism and 'Riyal Politik'Chapter Four: Iranian Foreign Policy: the Politics of Civilisation, Security and EconomyChapter Five: The Triangulation of U.S. Foreign Policy towards the Middle EastChapter Six: Economic Factors in Middle East Foreign Policies