Putins Energy Agenda

This is an examination of how the political design for restoring Russia's 'greatness' has been shaped by the increase of its profile as a key energy supplier and the continuing decline of its military might.

This important report looks at the policies and strategies President Putin has developed in the field of energy and at the current climate for foreign investors in the sector. Russian energy policy is at an important watershed. A substantial increase in the output of oil & gas, has led some analysts to view Russia as a reliable, alternative to global dependence on energy supplies from the Gulf. On the other hand, there are concerns that current Russian energy strategy comes closer to the Venezuelan OCyenergy state-capitalismOCO model where foreign energy companies are welcome to invest, but only on MoscowOCOs terms and in partnership with a state-controlled national energy company. How are these strategies unfolding and what are the lessons for private sector investors?"

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Russia, grade: B, University of Illinois at Chicago, language: English, abstract: Energy policy refers to the approach that governmental entities take to address issues pertaining to development of energy, particularly its production, distribution, and consumption. Energy policy is surrounded by many factors that affect it, which include legislative policies, investment incentives, treaties, taxation policies, and energy conservation, among many other public policy factors. The Russian energy policy is contained in a strategy document, which outlines the nation's energy policy until the year 2020. Russia has been proved to have the largest natural gas reserves in the world, and it recurrently alternates the top oil producer position with Saudi Arabia. Russia is responsible for supplying over a third of the oil and natural gas that Europe uses, and it is even starting to export its surplus to East Asian markets, which are hungry for energy. The energy sector is obviously a vital commercial asset for Russia, but it is much more than just that; for more than a century, Russia's energy sector has been one of its major pillars in the country's stabilization and escalating power. Energy security has been classified as the most fundamental aspect of Russia's national security, and more so because of the recent changes in global trends, which make the continuation of the strength of Russia's energy sector doubtful. Through out the history of Russia, its energy sector has undergone cycles of fluctuating strength and weakness. Since the czarist times, it has been the focus of the country's policy to manage these cycles. However, this history can be traced back to Vladimir Putin's regime. This paper, therefore, will discuss the political pressure activated by Russia's trade of oil and natural gas in Europe during Putin's third presidency.

This book examines the interplay between energy policy and security policy under Vladimir Putin, and his drive to re-establish Russia’s ‘greatness’. Assessing the internal contradictions of this policy, the book argues that Russia’s desire to strengthen its role of ‘energy security’ provider is undermined by its inability to secure growth in production of oil and gas. Further, the pressing demand to channel more resources into the military-industrial complex clashes with the growing need to invest in the energy complex, and the priority granted to strategic forces deprives the conventional forces of strike power and strategic mobility. In conclusion, the author anticipates how these contradictions could be resolved, and suggests three short scenarios for Russia’s continuing transition in the next decade. This book will be of interest to students of Russian politics, European politics and international security.

This timely book analyses the status of hydrocarbon energy in Russia as both a saleable commodity and as a source of societal and political power. Through empirical studies in domestic and foreign policy contexts, Veli-Pekka Tykkynen explores the development of a hydrocarbon culture in Russia and the impact this has on its politics, identity and approach to climate change and renewable energy.

This book examines Russia's new assertiveness and the role of energy as a key factor in shaping the country's behavior in international relations, and in building political and economic power domestically, since the 1990s. Energy transformed Russia's fortunes after its decline during the 1990s. The wealth generated from energy exports sparked economic recovery and political stabilization, and has significantly contributed to Russia's assertiveness as a great power. Energy has been a key factor in shaping Russia's foreign relations in both the Eurasian and global context. This development raises a host of questions for both Russia and the West about the stability of the Russian economy, how Russia will use the power it gains from its energy wealth, and how the West should react to Russia's new-found political weight. Given that energy is likely to remain at the top of the global political agenda for some time to come, and Russia's role as a key energy supplier to Europe is unlikely to diminish soon, this book sheds light on one of the key security concerns of the 21st century: where is Russia headed and how does energy affect the changing dynamics of Russia's relations with Europe, the US and the Asia-Pacific region. This book will be of interest to students of Russian politics, energy security, international relations and foreign policy in general. Jeronim Perovic is a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich. Robert Orttung is a visiting scholar at the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and a senior fellow at the Jefferson Institute. Andreas Wenger is professor of international security policy and director of the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich.

The sudden arrival of massive energy wealth during Putin's long reign has turned Russia's focus to resources, with some good and some very bad results. Considering why the good, a windfall of money to pay debts and put the country's finances in order, has been so overshadowed by the bad resource dependence, reliance on rents, and unbridled corruption Stefan Hedlund explores the many dimensions of Russia's energy policies and politics.

The volume provides a retrospective analysis of Putin’s eight years as president between 2000 and 2008. An international group of leading specialists examine Putin’s leadership in an informed and balanced manner. The authors are drawn from Russia itself, as well as from Europe, America and Australasia. Coverage includes general analysis of the Putin presidency, the ideology underlying the thinking of the regime, issues of institutional development including coverage of parties, parliament and elections, developments in the federal system, corruption and changes in the configuration of the elite. The impact of energy on changes in political economy provides the background to an assessment of Russia’s re-emergence as a great power in international affairs, accompanied by analysis of the difficulties in Russia’s relations with its former Soviet neighbours and the European Union. The authors examine the interaction between power and policy, and draw some conclusions about the dynamics of Putin’s system of government and thus of the fate of Russia. This book was published as a special issue of Europe-Asia Studies.