Territory, sovereignty and rebel oil governance in the Arab uprisings

This article examines how oil, territory and rebellion intersected during the Arab uprisings. It introduces the concept of rebel oil governance to capture how rebels claim oil resources physically and symbolically. Three forms – illicit, remote and consolidated – have distinct territorial logics and reflect broader rebel strategies. Some groups pursue new states and borders, but others challenge central authority while preserving territorial integrity. Using an explanatory typology and case studies of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Morocco, the article shows that separatists use oil governance to redraw territorial boundaries, whereas unitarists use it to retain borders while contesting power.