In "The Road to OPEC," acclaimed historian Stephen G. Rabe meticulously charts the strategic maneuvers and ideological battles that led to the creation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), forever altering the global economic landscape. At the heart of this narrative is Venezuela's pivotal role, alongside Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait, in establishing an alliance that would challenge the West's dominance over oil resources. Rabe's compelling account reveals the complexities of the oil diplomacy that evolved between the United States and Venezuela, a dance of power and resistance that culminated in the seismic shift of the 1973 oil embargo and the subsequent energy crisis. Through a lens of rigorous scholarship, Rabe brings to light the contentious debates, nationalistic fervor, and bold policies that led to the nationalization of U.S. oil and steel holdings in Venezuela, setting a precedent for resource sovereignty that resonated worldwide. Beyond a mere historical recount, "The Road to OPEC" delves into the ideological confrontations and economic negotiations that underscored U.S.-Latin American relations throughout the twentieth century. Rabe's narrative is enriched by his unprecedented access to declassified documents, which illuminate the strategic considerations of the U.S. Department of State, the National Security Council, and the CIA, against the backdrop of broader policy frameworks like the Open Door, the Good Neighbor, and the Alliance for Progress. This book not only serves as an essential study of the genesis of OPEC but also offers insightful analysis into the enduring conflict between raw-material producers and industrial consumers. Through Rabe's expert storytelling, "The Road to OPEC" emerges as a critical examination of the power dynamics that have shaped, and continue to influence, the modern world's energy politics and economic relationships.