Topics: History of Oil and Water (HIST 4990, Sec. 1)
Instructor: Dr. Phil Roberts Place: History Lounge
Office: 356 History Bldg., 766-5311 or 5101 Time: Wed., 3:20-5:35 p.m.
Office hours: T, Th, 11-Noon, and by appointment. Home: 745-8205; e-mail, philr@uwyo.edu
Course Objective: This course is a unique combination of a reading and research seminar. In terms of studying the history of oil, a “modified” comparative approach will be used, recognizing that while there may be similarities and parallels, the social, political and cultural aspects are quite different for each region. It should be emphasized that this course will NOT be “geographically specific” although there may be a comparative emphasis on the history of the American West. Neither will the course be taught in strictly chronological fashion. We will focus on recurring themes such as “boom-and-bust” conditions, the “colonial” aspects, corporate consolidation, nationalism, globalization, and environmental issues. Consequently, we will analyze oil and water issues separately, borrowing factors that can be compared and trying to understand other factors that can not. Throughout, the petroleum histories of each region and water development will be considered in the context of important world events and issues.
Required Books, Common Readings and Individual Assignments:
Two books will be required for oil, Daniel Yergin. The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991); Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron; and several individually assigned books and articles. A complete bibliography will be distributed on the first day of class.
For water, no books are required. A series of articles to be made available over the library webpage later in the semester. As in the case with oil, a complete bibliography of "water" will be distributed on the first day of class.
Other books and articles will be assigned on an individual basis. Beyond the common reading, each student will be assigned a specific geographical area and/or chronological period in which he/she will conduct extensive reading and research. The instructor will assign the readings based on the student’s individual interest and background. The result will be a research paper, the length largely determined by the results of the research. (See below for more details). Every effort will be made to make the reading/research expectations equitable. Please note that throughout the semester, class discussions will not be recapitulations of the contents of any of the readings. The common reading, however, is essential for background and students are expected to have read the assignments by the date indicated on the schedule below.
Unlike most other history classes, we will begin with an understanding of where the oil industry is today. In the first class, we will consider contemporary issues involving globalization, world politics, corporate growth, nationalism, and environmental standards as well as world and regional economics. Throughout the semester, students will be expected to stay abreast of current developments in the news.
Informal “Briefs”: From time to time, students will be assigned questions about the history of water and/or oil in the particular region under discussion. Class discussions may emanate from your researching and thinking about the topics under consideration. Each student will be asked to write brief, informal, 1-2 page (typed, double-spaced) reports on the particular topic under discussion. (I emphasize that there is no expectation that the “briefs” follow any particular form or format. The key factor is to challenge each student to think about the issues and do some research on the topics. Additional details will be forthcoming). Is this “history”? In terms of the rapid developments in both fields, events from last month well may be so classified.
Formal Paper: A significant part of the semester will be used to formulate, research and write a paper which may take the form of a formal term paper or a scholarly article. Topics will be chosen in consultation with the instructor. Each student will complete a formal term paper (12-20 pages, typed, double-spaced) or publishable article (length to be determined in consultation with the instructor). It is expected that the paper will be the result of careful reading of existing works on the topic as well as sound, careful, original research. Ideally, the American Heritage Center will contain holdings of value for the work. Presentations based on the “rough drafts” will be scheduled during the last several class periods of the semester. Following (constructive) class critiques of the drafts, most students (with the exception of those presenting last) will have time to prepare the final, formal document. The final product, due no later than the final class day, should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style or another recognized style guide.
Class Conduct: Your class grade will be based on your own work and not “curved” from what others will do in the class. Consequently, it is expected that we will treat one another collegially and with respect. Deviations from this dictum will not be tolerated. Students are reminded that distractions in the form of cell phone calls, individual conversations, and other disruptions are not acceptable and the professor will consider violations while assessing the final grades.
Grading: Because there are no exams, the final paper and presentation will make up a significant portion of the final grade for the course: 70%. “Informal briefs” will account for 20%. Class participation for the remainder (10%).
Outline of Topics, Meetings and Assignments
August 31: Introduction.
Sept. 7: Oil Today.
Reading assignment: Yergin, pp. 715-788; “Fueling the Dragon,” National Journal, August 6, 2005, pp. 2510-2513; “Shouted Down,” New York Times, Aug. 3, 2005, p. C1; http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/china.html; http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/iraq.html;
http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=4276; and listen to the National Public Radio archived web program for Aug. 22, 2005, titled “The Race to Share in Nigeria’s Oil Bounty”: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4797919 Individually assigned articles on recent developments in oil in various countries will be read for tonight as well. (Each student will be assigned a country for tonight and another for Oct. 5).
Discussion of Possible Paper Topics, Research Possibilities
Sept. 14: The American Oil Scene to World War II
Reading assignment: Yergin, pp. 11-113; 207-228; 244-259
Each student will be assigned to investigate the “oil history” of a state. These will include: Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Wyoming.
Sept. 21: Russia, Iran, the Middle East, Mexico, Venezuela to World War II
Reading assignment: Yergin, pp. 114-206; 229-243; 260-302.
Sept. 28: Oil and World War II.
Reading assignment: Yergin, pp. 304-408.
Research Paper assignments made.
Oct. 5: Middle East Ascendancy and OPEC
Reading assignment: Yergin, pp. 409- 560; individual readings on various countries.
Oct. 12: 1970s Oil Shocks
Reading Assignment: Yergin, 563-714; and individually assigned “biographies.”
Oct. 19: Gas: Pipelines, Coal-bed Methane and Regulation,.
Reading assignment: McLean and Elkind, The Smartest Guys in the Room.
Individually assigned readings about various gas pipelines and issues in the field.
Oct. 26: Oil and Water Politics, and the Environment
Reading assignment: Individually assigned articles.
Nov. 2: Water: Origins of Water Law and Policy
Nov. 9: No class. Instructor was ill.
Nov. 16: American West and 19th Century Water Developments.
Reading assignment for Nov. 30:
Part I: Check each of these sites, choosing specific rivers, water projects, dams, compacts in your search in order to both acquaint yourself with the breadth of materials on each site and become conversant with details of specific projects/compacts.
http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/index.html
http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/cwa.htm
http://www.corpsresults.us/navigation/default.htm
http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/compact.html
Part 2: Choose any state water development office or similar agency charged with water allocation and review how the particular state deals with water allocation. Wyoming's water allocation is handled by the Wyoming State Engineer (see the Wyoming site at:
Nov. 23: NO CLASS. Thanksgiving Break..
Nov. 30: Water and Reclamation: The 20th Century Issues.
Discussion of readings assigned on Nov. 16 (see above for assigned readings)
Dec. 7: International Water Issues. Reading assignment: From the below listed site, choose a world river system and note the various international agreements derived from the 19th century to the present in international use of water from the system among various nations:
http://mgd.nacse.org/cgi-bin/qml2.0/watertreaty/intl_treaties.qml
Dec. 14: Presentations, 5-9
FINALS WEEK: Deadline for final paper, Dec. 15, noon.