Analysys Of Aproaches To Energy Security Studies In Political Realism

Abstract

The article analyzes different theoretical approaches in energy security studies within the theory of political realism/neo-realism. The author notes that the modern trends in realism (offensive, defensive, neoclassical) expand the understanding of energy security from the point of view of a state’s foreign policy and have a number of advantages in assessment of common problems of the national and international security. For political realism material resources are at the same time both the purpose, and the means instrument of expansion of power of the state. Energy resources create an opportunity for a sate to expand its power, sphere of influence, to strengthen its financial and economic potential. In the article it is emphasized that representatives of neo-realism argue that the existing high dependence in world economy on oil and gas is connected with risks of violence. Armed conflicts and collisions doesn’t stop also at the local level when military aspects of energy security are determined by struggle for the rent received from export of energy resource. At the same time these modern neo-realist trends limit ours comprehension of a state behavior and behavior of other actors on the international scene.

References

Carr E.H. The Twenty Tear’s Crisis: an Introduction to the Study of International Relations. London: Macmillan, 1946.
Clare M. There Will Be Blood: Political Violence, Regional Warfare, and the Risk of Great-Power Conflict over Contested Energy Resources // Energy Security Challenges in the 21st Century: A Reference Handbook / Eds. G. Luft and A. Korin. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2009. P. 44-65.
Colin E. Realism // International Relations Theory for the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction / Ed. M. Griffiths. New York: Routledge, 2007. P. 11-20.
Gal L., Korin A. Realism and Idealism in the Energy Security Debate // Energy Security Challenges in the 21st Century: A Reference Handbook / Eds. G. Luft and A. Korin. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2009. P. 335-350.
Gideon R. Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy // World Politics. 1998. Vol. 51. No. 10. P. 144-172.
Giplin R. War and Change in World Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.  Jafar M. Kazakhstan: Oil, Politics and the New ‘Great Game' // The Caspian: Politics, Energy and Security / Ed. S. Akiner. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2004. P. 180-197.
Klare M. Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America‘s Growing Petroleum Dependency. London: Penguin, 2005.
Klare M. Global Petro-Politics: The Foreign Policy Implications of the Bush Administration's Energy Plan // Current History. 2002. Vol. 101. No. 653. P. 99-104.
Klare M. Resource Wars. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2001.
Klare M. Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2008.
Legro J., Moravcsik A. Is Anybody Still a Realist? // International Security. 1999. Vol. 24. No. 2. P. 5-55.
Marquina A. On the Deceit of Globalization, Energy Security and Challenges to European Foreign Policy // Theory Talks. 2009. No. 25. January 13. URL: http://www. theory-talks.org/search/label/Energy Security.
Mearsheimer J. The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001.
Moran D., Russell J. Energy Security and Global Politics. The Militarization of Resource Management. London: Routledge, 2009.
Morgenthau H. Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. New York: Knopf, 1960.
Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy / Eds. S. Lobell, N. Ripsman, J. Taliaferro. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Nye J. Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics. New York: Public Affairs, 2004.
Orban A. Power, Energy and the New Russian Imperialism. London: Praeger Security International, 2008.
Snyder G. Mearsheimer's World-Offensive Realism and the Struggle for Security: A Review Essay // International Security. 2002. Vol. 27. No. 1. P. 149-174.
Taliaferro J. Security Seeking Under Anarchy: Defensive Realism Revisited // International Security. 2000. Vol. 25. No. 3. P. 128-161.
Yergin D. Ensuring Energy Security // Foreign Affairs. 2006. Vol. 85. No. 2. P. 69-82.
Yergin D. The Prize: the Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. New York: A Division of Simon and Schuster, 2008.