The cost of heating a home is increasing.
Economist worry about the effect of oil prices on the economy.
For the countries of the industrialized world, national security has long been synonymous with access to oil. Many of the 20th century's wars and alliances have revolved around the contest for oil. Government officials, corporate executives, and military leaders have fixated on its significance. Since World War II, the importance of oil has transformed the Persian Gulf into one of the world's most strategically prized regions. Balancing U.S. Interests in the Middle East allows students to step back from our era's obsession with oil and take a broader look at its role in geopolitics.