Abstract

"Elites, Geopolitics, and Business: Mobil Oil in the Turkish Market from the Late 1950s to the Early 1960s"

Murat Iplikci, Columbia University (muratiplikci@gmail.com)

This study examines the operations and strategic expansion of Standard Mobil Oil in Turkey during the late 1950s and early 1960s, a period marked by rapid industrialization and deepening ties with U.S. influence. Drawing on a rich collection of archival materials, including internal company reports, correspondence, U.S. State Department documents, and Turkish state archives, this research highlights Mobil’s role as part of a broader U.S. post-World War II economic strategy. In this strategy, American oil companies were not only securing energy resources and profits but also extending U.S. geopolitical influence in the context of the Cold War. The study focuses on Mobil’s partnerships with the Turkish government, analyzing key aspects such as the negotiation of oil concessions, the establishment of refining facilities, and the distribution of petroleum products. It also explores how Mobil navigated Turkey’s complex political and economic landscape, shaped by the ruling elite and U.S.-backed denationalization efforts. The volatility of global oil prices and its impact on Turkey’s industrialization is also examined. By investigating Mobil’s role in both Turkey’s oil sector and its political environment, this research sheds new light on the intersection of business and geopolitics in the mid-20th century. It underscores the crucial role corporate and political actors played in shaping post-war Turkey’s economic development and emphasizes the strategic importance of the Turkish market for U.S. interests in the Eastern Mediterranean region.