The Geopolitics of Energy

Abstract

The sources of world energy are largely in the underdeveloped, Third World Countries. Political stability is a critical factor in the geopolitics of energy and especially in under-developed countries. Energy consumers, like the US, the Europeans and the Japanese, whatever indigenous or nearby sources of energy may exist, remain heavily dependent on external oil and natural gas supplies. This situation will continue into the next century. Inevitably, therefore, they will be caught up in internal political and societal problems integral to the producing states. Similarly, issues affecting fossil fuel transportation to refineries and consuming facilities all over the world will affect energy costs and availability. Consumers are at the mercy of indigenous problems in producing states over which they have little or no control. As new production areas are sought throughout the world, intra-regional disputes over ownership of oil or natural gas will undoubtedly arise as efforts are made to find mutually agreeable solutions that assure consumers reasonably guaranteed supplies.