The Geopolitics Of Energy

The idea that energy shapes and is shaped by geopolitics is firmly rooted in the popular imagination – and not without reason. Very few countries have the means to secure their energy needs through locally available supplies; instead, enduring dependencies upon other countries have developed. Given energy’s strategic significance, supply systems for fuels and electricity are now seamlessly interwoven with foreign policy and global politics. Energy and Geopolitics enables students to enhance their understanding and sharpen their analytical skills with respect to the complex relations between energy supply, energy markets and international politics. Per Högselius guides us through the complexities of world energy and international energy relations, examining a wide spectrum of fossil fuels, alongside nuclear and renewable energies. Uniquely, the book also shows how the geopolitics of energy is not merely a matter for the great powers and reveals how actors in the world’s smaller nations are as active in their quest for power and control. Encouraging students to apply a number of central concepts and theoretical ideas to different energy sources within a multitude of geographical, political and historical contexts, this book will be a vital resource to students and scholars of geopolitics, energy security and international environmental policy and politics.

A superb collection of provocative new perspectives on the contemporary energy order. --David S. Painter, Georgetown University In the all-encompassing energy realm, powerful state and private actors determine which of the world¿s many energy resources are developed ... and how societies are molded to accommodate those decisions. The authors of The Geopolitics of Global Energy Resources delve into the energy realm, identifying the infrastructure investments of today that are shaping the use patterns and political dependencies of tomorrow. They explore as well, the prospects for change to more sustainable and democratically accountable forms of energy. Ted Lehmann is faculty director for the social sciences at Excelsior College.

The world is currently undergoing an historic energy transition, driven by increasingly stringent decarbonisation policies and rapid advances in low-carbon technologies. The large-scale shift to low-carbon energy is disrupting the global energy system, impacting whole economies, and changing the political dynamics within and between countries. This open access book, written by leading energy scholars, examines the economic and geopolitical implications of the global energy transition, from both regional and thematic perspectives. The first part of the book addresses the geopolitical implications in the world’s main energy-producing and energy-consuming regions, while the second presents in-depth case studies on selected issues, ranging from the geopolitics of renewable energy, to the mineral foundations of the global energy transformation, to governance issues in connection with the changing global energy order. Given its scope, the book will appeal to researchers in energy, climate change and international relations, as well as to professionals working in the energy industry.

Energy and its corollary, energy geopolitics, is a more popular issue than ever before in today’s world. After being threatened for 40 years by fears of an oil shortage, we have now entered an era of abundant fossil fuels combined with an increase in global energy demand. However, new fears of sustainable development are now at the heart of energy policy. This book lays the foundation for an understanding of what energy is and the challenges ahead. The book opens with the fundamental principles of energy, reviewing the essential principles of physics that are based on universal laws that never change. It then examines the basics of data analysis and the importance of sustainable development. With this knowledge, it is then possible to review the different energy sources (oil, gas, coal, nuclear, renewable energy, electricity and energy efficiency), explaining how they are produced, the importance of their reserves, their specific markets and the main industrial actors, and the countries that produce them. These notions are essential to understand energy policy and geopolitics. As these are closely linked to its past evolution, many references are provided to historical events that put the current situation in perspective. This educational book is full of graphs, diagrams and boxes to help the reader gradually progress in their understanding of the highly complex geopolitical nature of energy.

Energy security has become a top priority issue for the United States and countries around the globe, but what does the term "energy security" really mean? For many it is assuring the safe supply and transport of energy as a matter of national security. For others it is developing and moving toward sustainable and low-carbon energy sources to avoid environmental catastrophe, while still others prioritize affordability and abundance of supply. The demand for energy has ramifications in every part of the globe—from growing demand in Asia, to the pursuit of reserves in Latin America and Africa, to the increased clout of energy-producing states such as Russia and Iran. Yet the fact remains that the vast majority of global energy production still comes from fossil fuels, and it will take a thorough understanding of the interrelationships of complex challenges—finite supply, environmental concerns, political and religious conflict, and economic volatility—to develop policies that will lead to true energy security. In E nergy Security, Brookings scholars present a realistic, cross-disciplinary look at the American and global quests for energy security within the context of these geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. For example, political analysts Pietro Nivola and Erin Carter wrap their arms around just what is means to be "energy independent" and whether that is an advisable or even feasible goal. Suzanne Maloney addresses "Energy Security in the Persian Gulf: Opportunities and Challenges," while economist Jason Bordoff and energy analyst Bryan Mignone trace the links between climate policies and energy-access policies. Carlos Pascual and his colleagues examine delicate geopolitical issues. Assuring long-term energy security remains one of the industrialized world's most pressing priorities, but steps in that direction have been controversial and often dangerous, and results thus far have been tenuous. In this insightful volume, Brookings

Renewables are a game changer for interstate energy relations. Their abundance and intermittency, possibilities for decentral generation and use of rare earth materials, and generally electric nature of transportation make them very different from fossil fuels. What do these geographic and technical characteristics of renewable energy systems imply for infrastructure topology and operations, business models, and energy markets? What are the consequences for the strategic realities and policy considerations of producer, consumer, and transit countries and energy-related patterns of cooperation and conflict between them? Who are the winners and losers? The Geopolitics of Renewables is the first in-depth exploration of the implications for interstate energy relations of a transition towards renewable energy. Fifteen international scholars combine insights from several disciplines - international relations, geopolitics, energy security, renewable energy technology, economics, sustainability transitions, and energy policy - to establish a comprehensive overview and understanding of the emerging energy game. Focus is on contemporary developments and how they may shape the coming decades on three levels of analysis: · The emerging global energy game; winners and losers · Regional and bilateral energy relations of established and rising powers · Infrastructure developments and governance responses The book is recommended for academics and policy makers. It offers a novel analytical framework that moves from geography and technology to economics and politics to investigate the geopolitical implications of renewable energy and provides practical illustrations and policy recommendations related to specific countries and regions such as the US, EU, China, India, OPEC, and Russia

This book examines the relation between energy and politics in South Asia and explores the geopolitics surrounding energy security in the region. Analyzing energy security and the scramble for resources in South Asia, the book highlights the important role of energy in light of the rapid economic growth of South Asian countries. The book analyzes the current energy security status of the countries in South Asia, their strengths and weaknesses, and the policies that need to be implemented in order to ensure their energy security. Focusing on Bangladesh as a case study, the author argues that the country is geographically important both in respect to its energy resources and as an energy hub. The author applies a novel analytical framework to measure the energy security of the region and examines the role of the US and China in this geopolitical scenario. A new assessment of energy security issues and the geopolitical aspect of energy security, this book will be of interest to researchers in the fields of energy studies and security, International Relations, South Asian Studies and Asian Politics.