John Roberts (writer)
Encyclopedia
John Roberts is a British
writer specialising in the inter-relationship between energy issues and politics. He currently writes for Platts
, a provider of energy and metals information and a source of benchmark price assessments in the physical energy markets.
and of Janet Adam Smith. His older siblings are: Andrew Roberts, former Professor of the History of Africa at the University of London
, Henrietta Dombey, Professor of Literacy in Primary Education at the University of Brighton
, and Sir Adam Roberts
, President of the British Academy
. He is married to Ann Milnes Roberts.
to civil war, including the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon in March 1978 – Operation Litani. He joined the Middle East Economic Digest in 1980 and was MEED’s U.S. Editor from 1984 to 1988 and then Washington Bureau Chief for Al Hayat Newspaper from 1988-89.
In 1990 he broke the news in that Saddam Hussain was determined to re-open Iraq
’s boundary dispute with Kuwait
, the issue that led to the Gulf Crisis and War of 1990-1991. As editor of Middle East Monitor in the 1990s, he reported on the emergence of Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq, the changing fortunes of the Arab World, Iran in an era characterised by international sanctions, and the slow recovery of trust between OPEC
producer states and industrialised consuming nations.
Currently, Roberts writes and lectures on energy security and environmental issues, including producer-consumer relations, water management in Central Asia, Turkey
and the Middle East, and the interlinked relationships between the European Union
and its oil and gas suppliers in Russia
, the Caspian and the Middle East.
In assessing global energy security issues, he has regularly toured the Gulf and the Caspian, as well as visiting the Alaskan North Slope Pipeline, the Athabasca Tar Sands, Norway
, and Venezuela
. He is one of the foremost analysts on the potential of the Caspian, and has worked with companies, governments and think tanks on a host of global energy issues, notably those concerning Caspian and OPEC producers and their relations with transit and consumer states.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer specialising in the inter-relationship between energy issues and politics. He currently writes for Platts
Platts
Platts is a provider of energy and metals information and a source of benchmark price assessments in the physical energy markets. Platts was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1909 by Warren C...
, a provider of energy and metals information and a source of benchmark price assessments in the physical energy markets.
Life
John Roberts is the youngest son of the poet, Michael RobertsMichael Roberts (writer)
Michael Roberts , originally named William Edward Roberts, was an English poet, writer, critic and broadcaster, who made his living as a teacher.-Life:...
and of Janet Adam Smith. His older siblings are: Andrew Roberts, former Professor of the History of Africa at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, Henrietta Dombey, Professor of Literacy in Primary Education at the University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
, and Sir Adam Roberts
Adam Roberts (scholar)
Sir Adam Roberts, KCMG, FBA is President of the British Academy , the UK's national academy for the humanities and social sciences...
, President of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
. He is married to Ann Milnes Roberts.
Career
Trained by Reuters News Agency, from 1978-80 Roberts covered the return of LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
to civil war, including the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon in March 1978 – Operation Litani. He joined the Middle East Economic Digest in 1980 and was MEED’s U.S. Editor from 1984 to 1988 and then Washington Bureau Chief for Al Hayat Newspaper from 1988-89.
In 1990 he broke the news in that Saddam Hussain was determined to re-open Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
’s boundary dispute with Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, the issue that led to the Gulf Crisis and War of 1990-1991. As editor of Middle East Monitor in the 1990s, he reported on the emergence of Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq, the changing fortunes of the Arab World, Iran in an era characterised by international sanctions, and the slow recovery of trust between OPEC
OPEC
OPEC is an intergovernmental organization of twelve developing countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. OPEC has maintained its headquarters in Vienna since 1965, and hosts regular meetings...
producer states and industrialised consuming nations.
Currently, Roberts writes and lectures on energy security and environmental issues, including producer-consumer relations, water management in Central Asia, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the Middle East, and the interlinked relationships between the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and its oil and gas suppliers in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the Caspian and the Middle East.
In assessing global energy security issues, he has regularly toured the Gulf and the Caspian, as well as visiting the Alaskan North Slope Pipeline, the Athabasca Tar Sands, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. He is one of the foremost analysts on the potential of the Caspian, and has worked with companies, governments and think tanks on a host of global energy issues, notably those concerning Caspian and OPEC producers and their relations with transit and consumer states.
Books by John Roberts
- Lebanon, The Summer of '82 (Liban, L'Été '82)
- Visions & Mirages: The Middle East in a New Era (Mainstream, Edinburgh, 1995)
- Caspian Pipelines (Royal Institute of International Affairs, London 1996)
- Pipeline Politics (Chatham House, 2007)