Energy security is an important component of power politics, which explains the distribution of limited resources and the consequences thereof. Yet contemporary international relations theories tend to focus more on the “security” element when it comes to energy security and somewhat underplay the “power” component that lies behind it. This may limit their purchase and nuance in explaining contemporary and future energy security developments. This article offers an initial theoretical argument that reveals and emphasizes how energy changes and shapes power and security concepts and, thus, requires an improved conceptual model in international relations theory. I provide a conceptual overview of energy and security before adapting and empirically examining existing international relations theories (realism, neorealism, liberalism). I then conceptualize energy security within the scope of realism and aim to emphasize the specific importance of power that energy security theory and policy requires. To do so, I investigate the Energy Security Development Capability and identify the elements that could contribute to the advancement of energy security. I also note why realism is still seen as a dominant approach to understand energy security. Related Articles Ash, John. 2010. “New Nuclear Energy, Risk, and Justice: Regulatory Strategies for an era of Limited Trust.” Politics & Policy 38 (2): 255‐284. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00237.x Khodr, Hiba, and Isabella Ruble. 2013. “Energy Policies and Domestic Politics in the MENA Region in the Aftermath of the Arab Upheavals: The Cases of Lebanon, Libya, and KSA.” Politics & Policy 41 (5): 656‐689. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12033 Wood, Steve. 2009. “Energy Security, Normative Dilemmas, and Institutional Camouflage: Europe's Pragmatism.” Politics & Policy 37 (3): 611‐635. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00187.x
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.