DOCSLIB.ORG

China and Global Energy Governance Under the G20 Framework Alex He

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
China and Global Energy Governance Under the G20 Framework Alex He CIGI PAPERS NO. 98 — MARCH 2016 CHINA AND GLOBAL ENERGY GOVERNANCE UNDER THE G20 FRAMEWORK ALEX HE G20 CHINA AND GLOBAL ENERGY GOVERNANCE UNDER THE G20 FRAMEWORK Alex He Copyright © 2016 by the Centre for International Governance Innovation The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Centre for International Governance Innovation or its Board of Directors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution — Non-commercial — No Derivatives License. To view this license, visit (www.creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). For re-use or distribution, please include this copyright notice. Centre for International Governance Innovation, CIGI and the CIGI globe are registered trademarks. 67 Erb Street West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2 Canada tel +1 519 885 2444 fax +1 519 885 5450 www.cigionline.org TABLE OF CONTENTS iv About the Global Economy Program iv About the Author 1 Acronyms 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 The Current Global Energy Governance System 5 Seeking Limited Goals for Global Energy Governance 6 Achieving Limited Goals of Global Energy Governance through the G20 8 China’s New View on Energy Security: Embracing Global Governance 10 China’s Participation in Global Energy Governance 13 Conclusion and Recommendations 15 Works Cited 20 About CIGI 20 CIGI Masthead CIGI PAPERS NO. 98 — MARCH 2016 ABOUT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY ABOUT THE AUTHOR PROGRAM Addressing limitations in the ways nations tackle shared economic challenges, the Global Economy Program at CIGI strives to inform and guide policy debates through world-leading research and sustained stakeholder engagement. With experts from academia, national agencies, international institutions and the private sector, the Global Economy Program supports research in the following areas: management of severe sovereign debt crises; central banking and international financial regulation; China’s role in the global Xingqiang (“Alex”) He is a CIGI research fellow. economy; governance and policies of the Bretton Prior to joining CIGI, Alex was a research fellow Woods institutions; the Group of Twenty; global, and associate professor at the Institute of American plurilateral and regional trade agreements; and Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences financing sustainable development. Each year, (CASS). At CIGI, he is focusing on China and the the Global Economy Program hosts, co-hosts Group of Twenty, China and global economic and participates in many events worldwide, governance, and domestic politics in China and working with trusted international partners, their impact on China’s foreign economic policy which allows the program to disseminate policy making. recommendations to an international audience of policy makers. In 2009-2010, funded by the Ford Foundation, Alex was a visiting scholar at the Paul H. Nitze School Through its research, collaboration and of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins publications, the Global Economy Program University in Washington, DC. In 2008-2009, he informs decision makers, fosters dialogue and was a guest research fellow at the Research Center debate on policy-relevant ideas and strengthens for Development Strategies of Macau. In 2008, he multilateral responses to the most pressing participated in a short-term study program at the international governance issues. Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California at San Diego, which was sponsored by the US Department of State. In 2004, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at the Centre of American Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Alex has co-authored the book A History of China- U.S. Relations and published dozens of academic papers and book chapters both in Chinese and English. He also periodically writes reviews and commentaries for some of China’s mainstream magazines and newspapers on international affairs. Alex has a Ph.D. in international politics from the Graduate School of CASS. Before beginning his Ph.D., he taught international relations at Yuxi Normal University in Yunnan Province, China. Iv • CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE INNOVATION CHINA AND GLOBAL ENERGY GOVERNANCE UNDER THE G20 FRAMEWORK ACRONYMS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AIIB Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Fragmentation of the global energy governance system, aggravated by securitization and politicization, paints a APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation bleak picture for the prospect of global energy governance. However, the basis provided by market forces and rules, CCP Chinese Communist Party reinforced by nation-states’ need for an effective global CEM Clean Energy Ministerial governance mechanism, is encouraging players, including nation-states and international energy organizations, to ECT Energy Charter Treaty pursue effective global energy governance, specifically limited goals in global transparency and data-sharing G7 Group of Seven mechanisms, and to coordinate efforts for clean energy and climate change governance in the near future. G8 Group of Eight The Group of Twenty (G20) provides significant G20 Group of Twenty institutional arrangements to coordinate big powers to GSEP Global Superior Energy Performance govern the international energy markets and address Partnership climate change. It could be the appropriate platform to negotiate and achieve these limited goals. The G20’s IEA International Energy Agency established cooperation with major international energy organizations such as the International Energy IEF International Energy Forum Agency (IEA), International Energy Forum (IEF) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries IGOs international governmental organizations (OPEC) would also help it to deliver these goals. IMF International Monetary Fund China participates in the majority of global energy IPEEC International Partnership for Energy governance institutions but is still a non-member outsider Efficiency Cooperation of major institutions such as the IEA and the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). Its energy security strategy still IRENA International Renewable Energy Agency mainly focuses on geopolitical means to guarantee its energy supply security and it does not have much trust in JODI Joint Organisations Data Initiative the international energy market. China is suspicious of the prospect that international energy governance institutions NDRC National Development and Reform can play a major role in coordinating stable energy Commission production, supply and consumption, and deliver energy NOCs national oil companies security for members in the global energy governance system. China therefore also doubts the benefits it could OPEC Organization of the Petroleum Exporting receive from participation in global energy governance. Countries The significant role China has played in the G20 since the PTAs preferential trade areas 2008 global financial crisis increased China’s confidence in global economic governance. It gradually realized the SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organisation virtues of global governance, and Chinese leaders began to talk of and even offer proposals on global energy SDDS Special Data Dissemination Standards governance under the G20 framework, as well as to pay UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on more attention to climate change and renewable and Climate Change clean energy development. Chinese academic circles paid even more attention to China’s substantial participation WTO World Trade Organization in global energy governance and suggested that China should join major global energy governing institutions as a member country and fully engage with these institutions and promote cooperation with them via the G20 platform. ALEX HE • 1 CIGI PAPERS NO. 98 — MARCH 2016 INTRODUCTION This paper explores China’s perspectives and practices in its quest for overseas energy supply security and its Since the 1990s, China has increasingly relied on imported participation in international energy cooperation since oil and gas. China’s policy makers gradually reached becoming a net oil import country in 1993. It compares consensus on active participation in international energy the traditional approach, in which China mainly focuses cooperation to secure the country’s national energy on bilateral means to pursue its overseas energy supply security. By interpreting “international cooperation” as security, and the new concept of energy security, in which “bilateral cooperation,” China chose to ensure its overseas greater involvement in global energy governance, in energy supply through bilateral energy cooperation, particular in the G20, is highlighted to promote China’s reinforcing its “going out” strategy,1 and building overseas energy security. The paper argues that China still retains oil and gas import routes. This going out strategy was a bilateral and regional cooperation approach, while implemented substantially in Africa, the Middle East making progress in developing closer cooperation with and Latin America, as well as elsewhere. Three strategic existing major global energy governing institutions. The land-based oil and gas pipelines2 have been built and are One Belt, One Road strategy proposed in 2013 is regarded transporting oil and gas back to China. More pipelines as a strengthened version of the bilateral and regional are being planned and built, as the main complement to cooperation approach. One argument for why China is importing oil via sea routes. The new Silk Road Economic embracing global energy governance institutions is that Belt
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Organizing Around Abundance: Making America an Energy Superpower
    Organizing Around Abundance: Making America an Energy Superpower DRAFT 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 3 The Problem with America’s Energy Policy: We Don’t Have One ...................... 7 Principle #1: Promote Responsible Development of Domestic Energy Resources and Construction of Infrastructure to Transport It ...................... 14 Oil and Natural Gas ..........................................................................................14 Keystone XL Pipeline—Build It Now ............................................................14 Property Rights, Federal Lands, and Resource Development ....................15 The Benefits of Increased Natural Gas Production .....................................17 Home Heating Oil ...........................................................................................18 Coal .....................................................................................................................20 Nuclear ...............................................................................................................22 Principle #2: Encourage Technological Innovation of Renewables and Emerging Energy Resources ...................................................................... 25 Principle #3: Unlock the Economic Potential of the Manufacturing Renaissance by Putting America’s Energy Resources to Work ....................... 30 Principle #4: Eliminate Burdensome Regulations ..........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Middle Power Theory, Change and Continuity in the Asia-Pacific
    MIDDLE POWER THEORY, CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC by ANTON BEZGLASNYY B.A. Simon Fraser University, 2010 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Political Science) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2013 ©Anton Bezglasnyy, 2013 Abstract This paper recalibrates the definition of ‘middle power’ and applies it to a comparative case study of Canadian and Australian foreign policies in the most dynamic region in the world, the Asia-Pacific. It is argued that the middle power concept remains a useful analytical tool in understanding the foreign policy behavior of states with a particular subset of material, institutional and identify characteristics. According to the refocused definition developed here, middle powers are states that possess all three of the following attributes: (i) medium sized material capabilities; (ii) perceive multilateralism and soft power as the optimal ways to maximize their foreign policy interests; and (iii) self identify as middle powers to domestic and international audiences. The particular value of the middle power concept advanced here, is the explanatory power it provides in the case of Canada and Australia in the contemporary Asia- Pacific: two states formerly classified as middle powers, possessing similar material capabilities, yet behaving in fundamentally different ways. This foreign policy divergence is accounted for by differences in ideational factors between the two states. Canada, it is argued, has socially deconstructed its own status as a middle power in the Asia-Pacific region, while Australia has bolstered its middle power identity. ii Table of Contents Table of Contents Abstract...................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Thirty Years of Sino-Saudi Relations
    Strangers to Strategic Partners: Thirty Years of Sino-Saudi Relations STRANGERS TO STRATEGIC PARTNERS: Thirty Years of Sino-Saudi Relations JONATHAN FULTON ATLANTIC COUNCIL 1 About the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative honors the legacy of Brent Scowcroft and his tireless efforts to build a new security architecture for the region. Our work in this area addresses the full range of security threats and challenges including the danger of interstate warfare, the role of terrorist groups and other nonstate actors, and the underlying security threats facing countries in the region. Through all of the Council’s Middle East program- ming, we work with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US inter- ests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region. You can read more about our programs at www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/middle-east-programs/. STRANGERS TO STRATEGIC PARTNERS: Thirty Years of Sino-Saudi Relations JONATHAN FULTON ISBN-13: 978-1-61977-114-7 Cover image: China’s President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz attend the Road to the Arab Republic—the closing ceremony of the artifacts unearthed in Saudi Arabia—at China’s National Museum in Beijing, China, on March 16, 2017. Photo credit: Reuters/Lintao Zhang/Pool This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The au- thors are solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions.
    [Show full text]
  • European Energy Security Reimagined. Mapping the Risks, Challenges and Opportunities of Changing Energy Geographies
    SWP Research Paper Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Ellen Scholl and Kirsten Westphal European Energy Security Reimagined Mapping the Risks, Challenges and Opportunities of Changing Energy Geographies RP 4 March 2017 Berlin All rights reserved. © Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, 2017 SWP Research Papers are peer reviewed by senior researchers and the execu- tive board of the Institute. They reflect the views of the author(s). SWP Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Ludwigkirchplatz 3­4 10719 Berlin Germany Phone +49 30 880 07-0 Fax +49 30 880 07-100 www.swp-berlin.org [email protected] ISSN 1863-1053 Table of Contents 5 Issues and Conclusions 7 Introducing the Dynamic Energy Landscape 7 Conceptualising Energy Geography and Energy Security 9 Global Energy Trends 12 Global Energy Cooperation and Governance 13 Geopolitical Outlook in EU’s Neighbourhood 15 Infrastructure Corridors, Energy Geographies and Fragmented Orders 17 Energy Regions, Market Orders and Competitive Regionalism 22 Surveying and Addressing Energy Risks and Opportunities 23 Hard Energy Security Risks 25 ‘Soft’ Energy Security Risks 27 Environmental and Climate Hazards 28 Connectivity: Risk, Opportunity or Organizing Principle? 30 Tools and Instruments at Hand to Address Changing Energy Geography 30 Energy Governance Challenges from a European Perspective 30 Institutions, Tools and Instruments 32 Recommendations for European Engagement and Action 34 Abbreviations Ellen Scholl was a Visiting Robert Bosch Fellow and Research Assistant in SWP’s Global Issues Division. Dr. Kirsten Westphal is Senior Associate in SWP’s Global Issues Division. This Research Paper was written within the framework of the project “Energiesicherheit in der OSZE (Energy Security in the OSCE)” funded by the German Foreign Office.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Empire: Oil, Gas and Russia's Revival
    The European Think Tank with a Global Outlook Energy Empire: Oil, Gas and Russia’s Revival Fiona Hill September 2004 About the Author First published in 2004 by The Foreign Policy Centre Dr. Fiona Hill is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies 49 Chalton Street Program at The Brookings Institution. She has published extensively London on a diverse range of issues related to Russia, relations among the NW1 1HY states of the former Soviet Union, the Caucasus region, Central UNITED KINGDOM Asia, ethno-political conflicts in Eurasia, and energy and strategic issues. Her book with Brookings Senior Fellow Clifford Gaddy, The Email: [email protected] Siberian Curse. How Communist Planners Left Russia Out in the Cold, was published by Brookings Press in December 2003. Other ©The Foreign Policy Centre 2004 recent publications include: ‘The Caspian Region: Pipelines for Politics, Peace and Prosperity?’ Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (Winter/Spring, 2004); ‘Central Asia and the Caucasus: The All rights reserved Impact of the War on Terrorism’, Nations in Transit (Freedom ISBN: 1 903558 38 7 House, 2003); ‘Seismic Shifts in Eurasia: The Changing Relationship Between Turkey and Russia, And its Implications for the South Caucasus’, Journal of South Eastern European and Black Sea Studies (2003); ‘Does Saudi Arabia Still Matter? Differing Perspectives on the Kingdom and its Oil’, (with Shibley Telhami) in Foreign Affairs, November/December 2002; and ‘Fueling the Future: The Prospects for Russian Oil and Gas’, (with Florence Fee) in Demokratizatsiya, Fall 2002. Hill was Director of Strategic Planning at the Eurasia Foundation in Washington, DC, from 1999-2000, and continues to serve as an advisor to the Foundation’s president.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Brief No.1 | May 2007 in INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE
    The Centre for International Governance Innovation Policy Brief no.1 | May 2007 IN INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE The Logic of the B(R)ICSAM CIGI POLICY Model for G8 Reform BRIEFS Andrew F. Cooper CIGI Policy Briefs in International Governance present topical, policy Expanding the BRICs relevant research, across CIGI’s The BRICs model developed by Goldman Sachs in its publication, Dreaming With main research themes. Written BRICs: The Path to 2050, has attracted some considerable attention.1 From an economic on an occasional basis by CIGI’s perspective, it has enormous attractions in lending attention to four countries (Brazil, research fellows and staff, the goal Russia, India, China) that that are dynamic global motors of growth. On the basis of of this series is to inform and enhance GDP/Purchasing Power Parity, China (4), India (6), Russia (11) and Brazil (12) all rank debate among policymakers and in the top 12.2 scholars on multifaceted global issues. Yet, looking beyond material resources to diplomatic logic, the viability of utilizing Available for download at: this model weakens considerably. For this group is highly differentiated in terms of www.cigionline.org their positioning in the international arena. It contains two members of the Permanent 5 (P5) of the Security Council within the United Nations system (UNSC), one entrant into the Group of G8, and two traditional champions of the global South as expressed through the G77 and other forums. One reaction against the unwieldy nature of this constellation has been to narrow the focus by privileging 'CHINDIA', that is to say, restricting the focus to the two massive Asian economic drivers, China and India.3 Even this reductionist approach, though, has its conceptual flaws.
    [Show full text]
  • Russia: an Energy Superpower? Scrutiny
    Prospectively, what is in question is Gazprom’s use of those revenues. Gazprom’s MA ss A C HU S ETT S I N S T I T U T E O F T E C HNOLOGY MA ss A C HU S ETT S I N S T I T U T E O F T E C HNOLOGY attempts to snap up assets in Europe indicate that it is not using its huge The Audit of revenues to invest in green fields and to refurbish decaying pipelines. This leaves Gazprom dependent on cheap gas from Central Asia, especially from Conventional Turkmenistan. Second, even if Gazprom were to invest more wisely, would those revenues go to develop fields and infrastructure to supply the European market Wisdom December 2007 December 2007 or would they go to developing sources in eastern Siberia and infrastructure to M I T CENTER FOR INTERNAT I O N A L S T U D I E S M I T CENTER FOR INTERNAT I O N A L S T U D I E S 07-22 In this series of essays, MIT’s Center feed the growing Asian markets? A wise investment strategy—one that would for International Studies tours the increase export capacity and develop new fields in both eastern and western horizon of conventional wisdoms that Siberia—requires a steady revenue stream. In effect this means that should of the Conventional Wisdom of the Conventional Wisdom define U.S. foreign policy, and put them Europe successfully find new suppliers, the money available to the Russian state to the test of data and history.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Gas As an Instrument of Russian State Power Alexander Ghaleb Etortthe Lpapers
    Natural Gas as an Instrument of Russian State Power Alexander Ghaleb etortThe LPapers NATURAL GAS AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RUSSIAN STATE POWER U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE Alexander Ghaleb Visit our website for other free publication downloads http://www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil/ To rate this publication click here. U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE Strategic Studies Institute U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA The Letort Papers In the early 18th century, James Letort, an explorer and fur trader, was instrumental in opening up the Cumberland Valley to settlement. By 1752, there was a garrison on Letort Creek at what is today Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. In those days, Carlisle Barracks lay at the western edge of the American colonies. It was a bastion for the protection of settlers and a departure point for further exploration. Today, as was the case over two centuries ago, Carlisle Barracks, as the home of the U.S. Army War College, is a place of transition and transformation. In the same spirit of bold curiosity that compelled the men and women who, like Letort, settled the American West, the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) presents The Letort Papers. This series allows SSI to publish papers, retrospectives, speeches, or essays of interest to the defense academic community which may not correspond with our mainstream policy-oriented publications. If you think you may have a subject amenable to publication in our Letort Paper series, or if you wish to comment on a particular paper, please contact Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II, Director of Research, U.S. Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, 632 Wright Ave, Carlisle, PA 17013-5046.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific
    Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific october 2013 Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific October 2013 Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) © 2015 Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Metro Manila, Philippines Tel +63 2 632 4444; Fax +63 2 636 2444 www.adb.org; openaccess.adb.org Some rights reserved. Published in 2015. Printed in the Philippines ISBN 978-92-9257-228-0 (Print), 978-92-9257-229-7 (e-ISBN) Publication Stock No. BKK157608-2 Cataloging-In-Publication Data Asian Development Bank. Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, 2015. 1. Energy. 2. Asia and the Pacific. I. Asian Development Bank. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ADB in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/.
    [Show full text]
  • Brics Energy Report Acknowledgments
    Energy Report ENERGY REPORT ISBN 978-5-9143803-3-2 The work presents the current state and plans for energy development in the BRICS countries, as well as analyzes possible areas of cooperation within the Group. The research focuses on the synergy and complementarity between the energy systems of the five countries, while emphasizing their significant role in the global energy sys- tem. The analysis also shows the need to strengthen the role of BRICS in the global energy agenda. The material was prepared by experts of the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform based on the national information provided and with the active participation of relevant ministries of the BRICS countries. The study consists of two sections. The first section is devoted to the study of the features of the energy systems of each of the BRICS countries. The second section assesses the role and place of BRICS in the global energy sector, considers complex strategic goals that are of interest to all the countries of the Group, and assesses the prospects for energy transformation in the next 20 years. The research is intended for government officials, representatives of science and business, and can be used in education. 4 2020 BRICS ENERGY REPORT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This Report was made possible thanks to the support and advice of many individuals and orga- nizations. The Committee of BRICS Senior Energy Officials plays a key role in providing guidance and support at all stages of the Report’s cycle. BRICS ERCP would like to thank each of its members for their time, energy and enthusiasm.
    [Show full text]
  • ARAB FUTURES 2.0 | the ROAD to 2030 European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
    CHAILLOT PAPER / PAPER CHAILLOT 154 ARAB FUTURES 2.0 The road to 2030 by Florence Gaub ARAB FUTURES 2.0 ARAB | THE ROAD TO 2030 TO THE ROAD CHAILLOT PAPER / 154 September 2019 European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) 100, avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris http://www.iss.europa.eu Director: Gustav Lindstrom © EU Institute for Security Studies, 2019. Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EUISS or of the European Union. print ISBN 978-92-9198-848-8 online ISBN 978-92-9198-847-1 CATALOGUE NUMBER QN-AA-19-004-EN-C CATALOGUE NUMBER QN-AA-19-004-EN-N ISSN 1017-7566 ISSN 1683-4917 DOI 10.2815/516474 DOI 10.2815/297004 Published by the EU Institute for Security Studies and printed in Belgium by Bietlot. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2019. Cover image credit: Johannes Schwaerzler/unsplash ARAB FUTURES 2.0 The road to 2030 by Florence Gaub CHAILLOT PAPER / 154 September 2019 The author Florence Gaub is the Deputy Director of the EUISS. She specialises in strategic foresight, as well as security and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. The EUISS Chaillot Paper series The Chaillot Paper series, launched in 1991, takes its name from the Chaillot hill in the Trocadéro area of Paris, where the Institute’s first premises were located in the building oc- cupied by the Western European Union (WEU).
    [Show full text]
  • 4. Energy and Russian Great Power Post-Crimea
    4 Energy and Russian Great Power Post‑Crimea Peter Rutland Vladimir Putin has been in power for 20 years, longer than Leonid Brezhnev. (He was appointed prime minister on 9 August 1999 and president on 31 December 1999.) During that time there have been some important shifts in the balance between the different instruments in Russia’s power projection toolkit. In the 2000s, the biggest fear in the West was, it seems, the energy weapon. However, Russia’s rebuilding of its military power and its demonstrated willingness to use armed force beyond its borders has shifted the balance towards hard power. This began with Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and continued with the annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the military intervention in Syria in September 2015. At the same time, changes in global energy markets (the fracking revolution and the rise of China) have changed the equation of risks and rewards in Russian energy exports. Increasing global economic integration left Moscow vulnerable to fluctuations in world markets, and post-Crimea sanctions revealed its exposure to Western interruption of key technologies and financial services. Russia’s capacity to wield the energy ‘weapon’ to advance its interests looks more questionable today than it did in 2008. There is a curious imbalance between Russia’s resurgence as a power on the world stage and its anaemic economic performance and dim growth prospects. This is largely explained by the decisive role that energy plays 85 RUSSIAN ENERGY StrategY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC in structuring Russia’s domestic political economy. Russia remains very much a ‘petrostate’, in which energy rent-seekers, in alliance with security forces, have the upper hand over profit-seekers.
    [Show full text]