For rulers whose territories are blessed with extractive resources - such as petroleum, metals, and minerals that will power the clean energy transition - converting natural wealth into fiscal wealth is key. Squandering the opportunity to secure these revenues will guarantee short tenures, while capitalizing on windfalls and managing the resulting wealth will fortify the foundations of enduring rule. This book argues that leaders nationalize extractive resources to extend the duration of their power. By taking control of the means of production and establishing state-owned enterprises, leaders capture revenues that might otherwise flow to private firms, and use this increased capital to secure political support. Using a combination of case studies and cross-national statistical analysis with novel techniques, Mahdavi sketches the contours of a crucial political gamble: nationalize and reap immediate gains while risking future prosperity, or maintain private operations, thereby passing on revenue windfalls but securing long-term fiscal streams.



Proposes a new theory on the rise and fall of political leaders in extractive-resource economies, providing insights into modern political paradoxes, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela

Combines statistical analysis with interviews and archival records on national oil companies, offering evidence from multiple perspectives for readers versed in either quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches

Unpacks the opaque politics surrounding state-owned enterprises and will appeal to readers interested in learning deep insights about the world's largest companies

Reviews & endorsements

‘Political survival is essential to rulers. In this thoughtful and far-ranging new book, Paasha Mahdavi shows exactly how rulers use control over energy and mining companies to advance their own political survival – often at the peril of their own people and the planet.' David Victor, University of California, San Diego

'Challenging conventional understandings of resource nationalization as the domain of strong rulers whose tenures are secure, Paasha Mahdavi carefully maps out and then demonstrates how much nationalization is in fact a strategy borne of political insecurity. Power Grab deftly weaves cross-national econometrics and carefully crafted comparative historical analysis to show how. Mahdavi’s analysis of the domestic and global-economic milieu in which leaders like Qaddafi gambled on, and won through, resource seizures, represents an ambitious and formidable new scholarly voice in the study of resource politics.' Benjamin Smith, University of Florida 'Mahdavi's Power Grab offers perhaps the most comprehensive and sophisticated analysis of oil nationalisation and re-nationalisation to date. By focusing on political leaders' perceptions of their probability of survival in oil rich states, it identifies an important paradox in the decision to nationalize: weaker leaders nationalize to bolster their power and become stronger as a result due to greater access to oil revenues, and yet, strong leaders opt not to nationalize, which serves to weaken their power by limiting their access to oil revenue. Power Grab thus offers important insight into the relationship between state ownership of the oil sector and regime survival.' Pauline Jones, Director, International Institute, University of Michigan 'This is a very interesting and provocative book on a timely and important topic. It should be read with great interest by academics, policymakers, and students. It speaks to issues that concern comparative political science, international relations, industrial organization, and macroeconomics. The best part about it is that it transcends stale debates about whether there is or is not a resource curse; rather, Mahdavi looks at the causes and consequences of state run oil companies with fresh eyes and exploits original data to make a truly nuanced argument. In doing so, he has really pushed the ball forward and, hopefully, opened up a new research agenda. Bravo!' Victor Menaldo, University of Washington

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Product details

Date Published: April 2020

format: Hardback

isbn: 9781108478892

dimensions: 235 x 157 x 19 mm