I have been missing in action since school started because I am on the brink of being done with it! Currently I am taking a Seminar on the Middle East, Approaches to Studying Political Theory, Arabic 3010 and a Thesis course. I am preparing to write my first chapter of my thesis, am applying for a study abroad language scholarship and am actually keeping up on all the readings for my other classes! Oh yeah, plus still working, enjoying life in Park City and playing with the babies!My thesis research is on what modes of investment Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will use in order to maintain their rentierism when their rents from oil are not longer sufficient. My thesis is that they will invest in alternative energy such as hydrogen, natural gas, biomass etc. Currently Qatar and Kuwait are deeply invested in Western economies but I don't think that those investments will be enough to make up for their massive oil rents.
My favorite part of the research will be the scientific part of it. I already visited the "science" section of the library, stacks that were unfamiliar to me since high school. I am quite fascinated with the evolution of algae and other biomass as an alternative to oil.
I am also on the hunt for a paper topic regarding Islam. Maybe somehow I can tie oil into that!
