StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Energy as a Parameter in Politics - Coursework Example

Cite this document
Summary
From the paper "Energy as a Parameter in Politics" it is clear that Asia is the new ground zero for growth of energy consumption.it is also true that Asia will be responsible for 85% of the energy consumption growth on the planet in the next 20 years…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.6% of users find it useful
Energy as a Parameter in Politics
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Energy as a Parameter in Politics"

ENERGY AS A PARAMETER IN POLITICS Introduction Politics on all levels from basic communal organization to global interactions rely on the distribution and availability of energy sources.Any nation’s economic state, security and sustainability depends on its ability to access and utilize energy sources1. This makes energy supply a basis for cooperation between nations as well as a spark for conflicts among. As far back as the 70’s there was a global mentality that there was a looming petroleum scarcity that would be permanent. This saw the United States change its energy policies and shift from a minor oil importer to a major oil importer on a global level2. However, in 2008 the notions of the impeding scarcity had a reverse effect with the producers wanting to make a large profit before the reserveswere depleted. This saw the prices rise continually. At that rate the country would be spending many billions of dollars on importation of petroleum and natural gas. This would create a distress in the economy because of the increased trade deficit. It is true that Asia is the new ground zero for growth of energy consumption.it is also true that Asia will be responsible for 85% of the energy consumption growth on the planet in the next 20 years. This has seen Russia try to form ties with the east to establish a proper market for its hydrocarbon exports3. The obvious deduction from this would be that Russia would wield more geopolitical power in the next few decades, which is not likely to be the case4. The current technological advancements have enabled rapid expansion of the shale gas industry in the US. In a decade, the industry has grown dramatically with the product now in abundant supply,seeing drastic reduction in prices. The policy debate has snow shifted to how much of the nation’s energy resource should be exported. The strengthening of the US’ geopolitical strength due to the shift in paradigms of the global energy market has greatly hindered China’s attempt to be the global leader. The best way to counter this influence would be to weaken the alliances that the US has with states in the region. The result has been the heightening of maritime tensions in the region with the East China Sea conflict providing a good illustration5. Both China and japan lay claim to a number of geographical features found in the sea. The features that comprise of a few islands and territorial waters could provide energy reserves and fishing grounds6. However, this is not the only reason behind the conflict. The key issue is that the waters are important choke points in maintaining strength in the shifting geopolitical scene. Turkey’s energy demands have surged over the years with the rate coming in second to China7. The booming economy has ensured that the nation must source almost all of its natural gas and oil from foreign sources, mostly Russia. This has seen the country become Russia’s largest trading partner as of 2008 after displacing Germany8. This partnership is furthered by the cooperation between the two to supply energy to central Europe with Turkey serving as the transit country. This is beneficial to Turkey that accrues millions in transit fees while reducing the environmentally threatening tanker traffic in the Bosporus strait. Russia has a political and economic system that is troubled and autocratic. However, it is also rich in energy resources, which it had been selling to countries like Ukraine9. This made it a geopolitical powerhouse that threatened the prosperity of European states. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union followed by the loss in power through the establishment of newer sources of energy globally, the geopolitical ego of “mother Russia” has taken some blows. The Ukrainian uprising therefore provided a perfect opportunity for the nation to flex and show its geopolitical muscle. Russia had planned to construct a Burgas-Alexandropoulos route through a 280 km route over Bulgaria and Greece. In the deal Russian companies would own 51% of the shares of the company that would transport Caspian and Russian oil to Burgas, the Bulgarian sea port before being sent to Alexandropoulos10. However, the coming into being of a new Bulgarian government backed by the EU in 2009 stalled the project after the new government demanded a better deal. This has seen Russia further ties with Turkey and improve the initial $11 billion south stream pipeline project by Gazprom and ENI by incorporating a second blue stream leg11. The pipeline that would traverse turkey’s territorial waters and come ashore in Bulgaria and supply the greater European region would double the volume from 31 to 63 billion m3. The interpretation of all these is that the standoffs between the EU, America and Russia have purposed to give Turkey greater geopolitical strength. The Crimea issue has especially contributed to this with Russia facing greater alienation and running out of options. The sanctions have meant that Russia has fewer options for supplying it energy to Europe. The reduced ability to export its energy has threatened its economy that almost crashed. With Ankara being in the best position to supply both sides of the divide, the sanctions have earned turkey millions in dollars in transit fees as well as improving ease of access to energy12. The Crimea territorial issue is a good illustration. The disputed addition of the territory to Russia does little to add value to the economic condition of the country. This shows that the aim of this move was to spite the EU and the west in general. The point gains more support from the fact that Russia threatened to close the gas pipeline to Ukraine at one point, a move that can only be described as strong-arming. The end result is the existing standoff between the EU and Russia that threatens the economic success of Europe. The effect of this standoff is that energy has come out as a parameter in the determination of political directions for Russia. However, this move seems to have backfired with the abundance of energy in terms of petroleum and natural gas driving the prices down. The reduction in oil prices led to the Russian ruble decline with the economic slump being compared to the great depression. So it is safe to say that energy plays an important role in the determination of political directions and the geopolitical power experienced by the “American Empire” is not likely to wane anytime soon. Bibliography Ahmed, N 2014, Ukraine crisis is about Great Power oil, gas pipeline rivalry | Nafeez Ahmed. the Guardian. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2014/mar/06/ukraine-crisis-great-power-oil-gas-rivals-pipelines [15 Feb. 2015]. Bahgat, G 2014, The Geopolitics of Energy Security. International Relations And Security Network. Available from: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail/?id=177912 [15 Feb. 2015]. Kaplan, R 2014, The Geopolitics Of Energy. Forbes. Available from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/04/04/the-geopolitics-of-energy/ [14 Feb. 2015]. Lavelle, M. and Smith, J. 2015, Why Are China and Japan Sparring Over Eight Tiny, Uninhabited Islands in the East China Sea?. National Geographic. Available from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/10/121026-east-china-sea-dispute/ [15 Feb. 2015]. NATO 2015, Transatlantic energy security and the Ukraine-crisis: A blessing in disguise?. NATO Review. Available from: http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2014/NATO-Energy-security-running-on-empty/Transatlantic-energy-security-Ukraine-crisis/EN/index.htm [15 Feb. 2015]. Weitz, R 2015, Russia-Turkey Energy Ties: Cooperation with Conflict. Diplomaatia.ee. Available from: http://www.diplomaatia.ee/en/article/russia-turkey-energy-ties-cooperation-with-conflict/ [19 Feb. 2015]. ZHU, Z 2012, New dynamics in East Asian politics: security, political economy, and society. New York, NY, Continuum International Pub. Group. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Energy as a Parameter in Politics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words, n.d.)
Energy as a Parameter in Politics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/politics/1677599-this-work-is-about-geopolitics-of-energy-subject-so-please-look-assignment-criteria-for-topic
(Energy As a Parameter in Politics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words)
Energy As a Parameter in Politics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words. https://studentshare.org/politics/1677599-this-work-is-about-geopolitics-of-energy-subject-so-please-look-assignment-criteria-for-topic.
“Energy As a Parameter in Politics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/politics/1677599-this-work-is-about-geopolitics-of-energy-subject-so-please-look-assignment-criteria-for-topic.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Energy as a Parameter in Politics

Organizational Behavior in Health Care

Thus through the use of Content Theories, the managers tend to gain an understanding of the factors that tend to drive or kindle the energy in an individual to achieve desired ends.... The following paper “Organizational Behavior in Health Care” relates to the understanding of the concept of motivation and thereby in identifying and analyzing the different theories related to such....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

The Emergence of Environmentalism as a Major Force in Modern Politics

The emergence of environmentalism as a major force in modern politics Your Name Name of of Professor The emergence of environmentalism as a major force in modern politics Baron de Montesquieu was perhaps the first political theorist to link politics with the environment when he proposed that laws must be framed in accordance with the geographical and climatic conditions of a nation (Montesquieu, Of Laws in Relation to the Nature, n.... hellip; Over the centuries environmentalism has become a multifaceted political subject touching upon the spheres of ethics, globalization, gender politics and sustainable development....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

How to Reduce Energy Consumption in Student Dormitories

The paper "How to Reduce energy Consumption in Student Dormitories?... tells that attitudinal studies have shown that residents say that they would respond positively to incentive schemes that encourage them to purchase energy-saving measures for their homes as well as their places of residence.... hellip; This approach deviates from local and national regulators that have traditionally relied on combinations of strategic legislation, public information in national campaigns, and targeted funding and subsidies to help homeowners as well as hostel residents lower their energy consumption as well as to adapt alternatives to energy generatedю For effective behavior change in energy-saving aspects down in surroundings such as a hostel setting, there need to be appraisals on the threats that are brought about in the use and misuse of energy....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

Politic Articles

The focal point of this essay to compare and contrast between the articles by McGinnis' Costs and Challenges of Polycentric Governance and Lechner's Three forms of Social coordination.... The difference between the two articles is about eight years but there are specified similarities between the two though there are differences prevailing. … The approach of McGinnis is basically focused on the forms of government with its related applications....
3 Pages (750 words) Book Report/Review

A Clear Chapter by Chapter Synopsis of The President as Leader by Erwin C. Hargrove

Neither politics nor the strategy f politicization had much to do with cabinet appointments.... Following a distinguished career as a scholar f the American presidency, Erwin C.... Hargrove in The President as Leader offers his capstone appraisal f presidential leadership.... … Following a distinguished career as a scholar οf the American presidency, Erwin C....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The President as Leader by Erwin C. Hargrove

Neither politics nor the strategy οf politicization had much to do with cabinet appointments.... This book review "The President as Leader by Erwin C.... Hargrove" sheds some light on the American presidency, Erwin C.... Hargrove President Leader offers his capstone appraisal οf presidential leadership....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Business Strategy Game - Projected Demand for Athletic Footwear

This paper "Business Strategy Game - Projected Demand for Athletic Footwear" presents an analysis of the decisions taken by Group F in the Business Strategy Game simulation exercise, trying to explain the rationale behind the decisions taken in successive rounds in the game.... nbsp;… An overview of the industry is presented together with an analysis of the opportunities and threats in the athletic footwear industry as of the end of Year 10....
13 Pages (3250 words) Coursework

Management of International Business

This paper focuses on potentially evaluating the Australian region as one of the effective regions for Wal-Mart to expand.... In terms of evaluating the region is scanned pertaining to macro-environmental factor sets that would tend to impact the retail operations of the grocery retail store… The paper also tends to incorporate the use of other strategic tools like Porter's Five Forces Model and the SWOT Framework to effectively evaluate the external industrial paradigm of the Australian Grocery Retail market and also gauge the Strength and Weakness of Wal-Mart to exploit the emerging opportunities and counter the rising threats After having conducted the evaluation along such fronts the paper proceeds to render effective recommendations to the strategies and activities that Wal-Mart can pursue to gain an effective entry into the Australian region amidst other potential competitors....
16 Pages (4000 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us