TTLV: The US oil diplomacy policy toward Iraq

  INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Lai Dieu Kieu Phuong                  

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 28, 1990

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision No. 2797/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 28, 2012, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:US oil diplomacy towards Iraq

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Le The Que, a retired staff member currently working at the Faculty of International Studies - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

In general, the thesis clarified the US oil diplomacy policy towards Iraq in terms of its planning basis, content, implementation, and future policy prospects.

The thesis focused on presenting, analyzing, and evaluating the following main points:

Firstly, Iraq is a Middle Eastern country with abundant oil resources, but it is internally divided by religious and ethnic conflicts. At the same time, Iraq has been a battleground for influence among major powers throughout history, including the United States, so the US's oil diplomacy in Iraq has many distinctive features.

Secondly, U.S. interests in the region extend far beyond securing access to oil; they encompass monetary security, strategic influence, and the balance of power in the volatile Middle East. The policy's objectives are defined by two main points: ensuring a stable flow of oil from Iraq while preventing Iraq from using its oil resources for military development and becoming a threat to regional security. The U.S. has not hesitated to use military force to wage war in order to achieve these goals.

Ultimately, the US oil diplomacy with Iraq is still considered to have been more of a failure than a success. The policy's objectives remained unachieved despite the US administration's flexible use of various tools in practice.

11. Practical applications:

The findings of this thesis will contribute to research on US oil diplomacy with Iraq. The thesis can also be used as a reference for research and teaching on International Relations at the Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities in general, and on US foreign policy at the Americas Studies department in particular.

12. Future research directions:

Based on the results of this thesis, further research can be developed in the following direction.US policy on dealing with IS and controlling oil resources in Iraq.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Lai Dieu Kieu Phuong 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 28^thAugust 1990 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 2797/QD-XHNV-SDH, Dated 28th December 2012,by Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: The American oil diplomacy in Iraq

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisor: Dr. Le The Que, Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

In general, the thesis has clarified the American oil diplomacy in Iraq in terms of its planning, implementation and prospects.

The following major points have been presented, analyzed and evaluated:

Firstly, Iraq is one of the oil richest countries in the Middle East, an internally divided country because of religious and ethnic conflict as well as a land for powers to compete for influence since the early modern period of its history. Therefore, the American oil diplomacy in Iraq is different from towards those other countries or regions.

Secondly, the US interests in Iraq were not only to ensure its access to oil resources but also the US currency, strategic influence and balance of power in the Middle East where instability has existed for a long time. The objective of this policy consists of two main points: to ensure steady flow of oil from Iraq and to prevent the use of oil benefits to develop military capabilities and become regional security threat. The US has not hesitated to use military tools to wage wars to achieve the above objectives.

Finally, this policy has been evaluated as a failure rather than a success. This policy objective has not been achieved although the US government has used flexible tools in actual implementation.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

The results of the study will contribute to the further researches into the American oil diplomacy. It may also be used as a reference for researchers, teachers and students in the field of international relations in general and US foreign policy in particular.

12. Further research directions, if any:

Further research could be conducted intothe US policy to fight the Islamic State and its role in controlling oil reserves in Iraq.

13. Thesis-related publications: None