Geopolitics of the Energy Transition (MEE200)

Energy has been described as the universal currency of our planet (Vaclav Smil). Its availability and conversion represents a fundamental prerequisite of economic processes. Given the relatively high energy density of fossil fuels, the use of carbon-based primary energy greatly expanded the economy of those countries having available the technologies necessary for its extraction and conversion. By transitioning from energies with relatively low energy densities (e.g. coal) to such with an ever higher energy density (e.g. oil), the expansion of the economy could be maintained for decades. Towards its later stages, this process culminated in the introduction of nuclear energy, which contemporaries interpreted as the dawn of a world of unlimited productivity and wealth. However, the rapid, energy driven economic growth soon revealed its downsides. While the new potential of human societies to change their surroundings lead to an increasing standard of living, it also intensified environmental problems and political conflicts. Hence, the use of fossil and nuclear energy may have brought us a little closer to utopia; but the price humanity paid for this is a move towards global disaster.

This course focusses on the dynamic relationship between the energy transition and power relations in the international state system, that is major changes in the energy system on the one hand and the structure of international politics on the other. The switch to fossil fuels and later nuclear energy represents a formidable example in this regard: it implied a massive increase of power for individual human societies that was unseen until the middle of the 19th century, and - given the anarchical structure of the state system - forced other nations to seek similar power. With a focus on policies and actions to secure energy supply, this course discusses the structure of today's international system, and analyses the role of energy in this context - its use, access to and control over. This includes different geographical areas (e.g. Europe and Asia), forms of energy (e.g. oil and electricity), and theories such as energy security, (neo-)realism and (neo-)liberalism. Point of departure is the switch to fossil fuels and its effect on power relations between countries. Later, the course discusses the global transition to renewables and how it alters the relations between states and power blocks. Being frontrunners of this latest energy transition, Europe and China stand in the focus of this part of the course. Beyond topics directly linked to energy, the course also looks into areas where energy plays a more indirect role, namely the negotiation of international environmental agreements.

Learning outcomes:

After completing the course, the students have the following knowledge, skills and competencies:

In terms of knowledge, students will have insights into the following areas:

• geopolitics and international relations theory
• the role of energy in international politics
• the concept of energy security
• environmental and energy policy in a number of geographical areas
• the impact of renewables on the geopolitics of energy
• the fragmented system of global energy governance
• controversies related to the on-going transition towards renewables
• concepts and theories related to the subject of the course  

In terms of skills, students should be able to achieve the following:

• description of different cases with an importance to the geopolitics of energy
• description of theoretical concepts related to the geopolitics of energy, e.g. energy security
• application of a (number of) perspective(s) to a given case
• addressing various challenges with regard to global energy governance
• showing an understanding of international environmental negotiations and governance
• assessing the links between the geopolitics of energy the energy transformation
• critically assessing and evaluating different energy- and environment-related policy measures
• demonstrating an understanding of the range and substance of political and policy issues related to energy politics and energy security concerns  

In terms of general competencies, students should be capable of:

• formulating and expressing knowledge about problems associated with today's system of energy governance
• formulating and communicating challenges associated with bringing energy systems in alignment with ecological limits
• processing quantitative as well as qualitative data
• making effective oral and written presentations
• showing a good capacity for independent learning

Fagperson(er)

Course coordinator:

• Lectures
• Excursion(s)
• Group work, seminar
• Student assignments
• After-class study group (non-mandatory):
• To explore individual texts and relevant issues in detail, an after-class study is formed. This group study primarily discuss the course literature, but topical events may be included.

Textbook

Högselius, P. (2016). Energy and Geopolitics (M. F. Keating & A. Goldthau, Red.). London and New York: Routledge.

Articles

Smith Stegen, K. (2011). Deconstructing the «energy weapon»: Russia’s threat to Europe as case study. Energy Policy, 39(10), 6505–6513.

Graaf, T. V. D. (2013). Fragmentation in Global Energy Governance: Explaining the Creation of IRENA. Global Environmental Politics, 13(3), 14–33.

van Der Vleuten, E., & Lagendijk, V. (2010). Interpreting transnational infrastructure vulnerability: European blackout and the historical dynamics of transnational electricity governance. Energy Policy, 38(4), 2053–2062.

Van de Graaf, T. (2012). Obsolete or resurgent? The International Energy Agency in a changing global landscape. Energy Policy, 48(C), 233–241.

Bazilian, M., Bradshaw, M., Goldthau, A., & Westphal, K. (2019). Model and manage the changing geopolitics of energy. Nature, 569(7754), 29–31.

Overland, I. (2019). The geopolitics of renewable energy: Debunking four emerging myths. Energy Research & Social Science, 49, 36–40.

Griffiths, S. (2019). Energy diplomacy in a time of energy transition. Energy Strategy Reviews, 26, 100386–.

Månberger, A., & Johansson, B. (2019). The geopolitics of metals and metalloids used for the renewable energy transition. Energy Strategy Reviews, 26.

Bradshaw, M., Van De Graaf, T., & Connolly, R. (2019). Preparing for the new oil order? Saudi Arabia and Russia. ENERGY STRATEGY REVIEWS, 26, 100374.

Paltsev, S. (2016). The complicated geopolitics of renewable energy. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 72(6), 390–395.

Scholten, D. J., & Bosman, R. (2016). The geopolitics of renewables; exploring the political implications of renewable energy systems. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 103, urn:issn:0040–1625.

Janardhanan, N. (2015). India–China Energy Geopolitics: Dominating Alternative Energy Market in Pacific Asia. International Studies, 52(1-4), 66–85.

Shidore, S., & Busby, J. W. (2019). One more try: The International Solar Alliance and India’s search for geopolitical influence. Energy Strategy Reviews, 26, <xocs:firstpage xmlns:xocs=/>–.

Harsem, Ø., & Harald Claes, D. (2013). The interdependence of European–Russian energy relations. Energy Policy, 59, 784–791.

Chapters

Jeff D. Colgan, & Jan B. Stockbruegger. (2018). Energy and International Conflict. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Lior Herman. (2018). Energy as an Instrument in Global Politics. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Jeffrey D. Wilson. (2018). Energy Interdependence. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Jonas Nahm. (2018). The Energy Politics of China. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Jessica Jewell, & Elina Brutschin. (2018). The Politics of Energy Security. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Laurence L. Delina. (2018). The Politics of Energy and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. I Kathleen Hancock & Juliann Allison (Red.), The Oxford Handbook of Energy Politics.

Caroline Kuzemko, & Michael F. Keating, A. G. (2016). Perspectives on the Global Energy Challenge. I Caroline Kuzemko, A. G. Michael F. Keating, M. F. Keating, & A. Goldthau (Red.), The global energy challenge : environment development and security (s. 6–34; Av C. Kuzemko). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Joseph S. Nye. (udatert). What Is Power in Global Affairs? I Joseph S. Nye, The Future of Power (s. 3–24).

Caroline Kuzemko, Michael F. Keating, & Andreas Goldthau. (2016b). The Political Economy of Energy. I M. F. Keating & A. Goldthau (Red.), The global energy challenge : environment development and security (s. 58–78; Av C. Kuzemko). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Robert Gilpin. (2001). The New Global Economic Order. I J. M. Gilpin (Red.), Global political economy : understanding the international economic order (s. 3–24; Av R. Gilpin). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Timothy C. Lehmann. (2017). The Geopolitics of Global Energy. I Timothy C. Lehmann & T. C. Lehmann (Red.), The geopolitics of global energy : the new cost of plenty / (s. 1–21; Av Timothy C. Lehmann). Boulder, Colorado ;: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.,.

Robert O. Keohane. (2005). Realism, Institutionalism, and Cooperation. I Princeton University Press (Red.), After Hegemony. Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy (s. 5–11; Av Robert O. Keohane). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Caroline Kuzemko, Michael F. Keating, & Andreas Goldthau. (2016a). Actors and Institutions. I M. F. Keating & A. Goldthau (Red.), The global energy challenge : environment development and security (s. 79–100; Av C. Kuzemko). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Daniel Scholten. (2018). The Geopolitics of Renewables—An Introduction and Expectations. I Daniel Scholten & D. Scholten (Red.), The Geopolitics of Renewables [electronic resource] / (1st ed. 2018., s. 1–33). Cham :: Springer International Publishing :

Karen Smith Stegen. (2018). Redrawing the Geopolitical Map: International Relations and Renewable Energies. I Daniel Scholten & D. Scholten (Red.), The Geopolitics of Renewables [electronic resource] / (1st ed. 2018., s. 75–95; Av Daniel Scholten Editor). Cham :: Springer International Publishing :

Duncan Freeman. (2018). China and Renewables: The Priority of Economics over Geopolitics. I Daniel Scholten & D. Scholten (Red.), The Geopolitics of Renewables [electronic resource] / (s. 187–201; Av Daniel Scholten Editor). Cham :: Springer International Publishing :

Other

Global Commission On The Geopolitics Of Energy Transformation, T. S. O. T., & Van De Graaf, T. (2019). A new world : the geopolitics of the energy transformation.

Amin, A. Z. (2019). Renewable Energy: Will China Be The Superpower? Here Comes the Sun Will China be the superpower in a world transformed by renewable energy?(Downloads). I Newsweek (Bd. 172). Newsweek LLC.