British Oil Hegemony And Its Influence In Iran, 1900-1954

This paper is mainly about the gain and loss process of British oil hegemony in Iran from 1900 to the oil nationalization movement and the relation between the oil and the national power, politics as well as the diplomacy and so on. The paper is divived into four parts.Part one mainly explores the establishment of oil strategy of Britain in Iran. When the modern oil industry had been developed in America and Russia, it did not attract Britain. However, with the technology development, the commercial value and military meaning of oil have been manifested increasingly, which induced Britain to formulate its own oil policy. In aspect of oil exploration, Britain finally chose Iran as its supplier because Iran was not only an important strategic position but also was rich in oil reserve.Part two deals with Britain-Iran Oil Company and British oil hegemony in Iran. Britain supported Darcy to acquire Iranian oil royalty, and promoted the cooperation between Iran and Burma so that it could seek the oil hegemony in Iran. When Britain-Iran Oil Company was in difficulty, British government took it over and supported its development with the method of economic, military, diplomacy and so on. British government achieved its object of controlling Iranian oil by the hands of Britain-Iran Oil Company, so that it set up its oil hegemony in Iran.Part three deals with the oil struggle among Britain, Russia and America as well as the falling of British oil hegemony. As an important strategic resource, oil had been the object for the Powers to struggle for Iran, which has an importance strategic meaning due to its unique geography position and large oil reservation, attracted Britain to achieve its oil hegemony in this area. Meanwhile, it also made Britain combat with Russia and America as well. The wane of British national strength proved an opportunity for America to invade Iranian oil field through Iranian oil nationalization movement, which resulted in the losing of British oil hegemony in Iran.Part four deals with the influence of British oil hegemony in Iran. British oil hegemony in Iran had a profound impact on British Politics and Economics. Although Britain acquired a large economic interest from Iranian oil resource, yet it had not brought any benefit to Iran, which in principle it should. By contrast, it brought Iran a miserable situation that characterized in abnormal economics, chaotic politics, damaged resources and impecunious life of Iranians. Furthermore, British oil hegemony in Iran incited the desire of Powers to rob the oil resource of the Middle East. As a result, a squall aimed to partition the oil resource of the Middle East was stirred up, which pull the oil- producing countries in this area into the abyss of war, poverty and lag.