State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been declining in numbers in most industries. However, in the oil and gas industry, state-owned national oil companies (NOCs) continue to secure dominant positions in most of the oil-producing countries. In some instances, energy-exporting countries conducted...

"If political rulers' first struggle is gaining power, strategically securing the means to accrue and retain that power is a close-run second. For rulers whose territories are blessed with extractive resources, such as petroleum, metals, minerals, and other precious commodities, converting...