Energy in Global Politics

Energy has always played a role in world politics. Concerns about how future supply will meet nations’ needs have put energy on the agenda of recent international meetings at the highest levels.

In this module, you will look at how energy, its availability, and geographical presence influence world politics and vice-versa. You will consider how different countries and cultures have responded in the past and how they may respond in the future to the energy challenges they face.

As the energy strategies of nation states and global institutions change to face the dual challenges of energy security and climate control, you will consider the role companies play. A critical understanding of how and why different countries act in the way they do is increasingly important for the leaders of the energy industry both now and in the future.

Topics covered will include:

The politics of energy: history and themes
Understanding the key players: producers, consumers, institutions, and corporations
Energy security
States, markets, and regulation
Culture
Possible futures.

By the end of this module you will have:

Learned the fundamentals of international trade and the role of energy