In this fascinating and timely volume leading Russian and Western scholars examine various aspects of Russian energy policy and the opportunities and constraints that influence the choices made by the country's energy decision makers.
For a long time Russia's position as a key global energy player has enhanced Moscow's international economic and political influence whilst causing concern amongst other states fearful of becoming too dependent on Russia as an energy supplier. The Global Financial Crisis shook this established image of Russia as an indispensable energy superpower, immune to negative external influences and revealed the full extent of Russia's dependence on oil and gas for economic and political influence. This led to calls from within the country for a new approach where energy resources were no longer regarded wholly as an asset, but also a potential curse resulting in an over reliance on one sector thwarting modernization of the economy and the country as a whole. In this fascinating and timely volume leading Russian and Western scholars examine various aspects of Russian energy policy and the opportunities and constraints that influence the choices made by the country's energy decision makers. Contributors focus on Russia's energy relations with the rest of the world alongside internal debates about the need for diversification and modernisation in a changing economy, country and world system where overdependence on energy commodities has become a key concern for customer and supplier alike.
'Bringing together an impressive roster of the world's leading experts in the field of Russian energy politics, this collection provides an empirically rich and theoretically-sophisticated study of the challenges facing the management of Russia's energy resources. As the country seeks to modernise and diversify, the issue of whether its energy resources are a curse or a blessing is deftly analysed to provide unique insights that will be of interest to a broad range of readers.' Richard Sakwa, University of Kent, UK 'The work of leading scholars in fields including international relations, political economy, international business, anthropology, and others, this volume ably breaks down the institutional and technical challenges facing Russian energy producers, while connecting the energy sector's inner workings to Russian politics and foreign policy. A first class guide for scholars and practitioners alike.' Jeffrey Mankoff, Center for Strategic and International Studies, USA 'This book, although published before the dramatic events that began in Ukraine In November 2013, makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the recent past and will help us understand the future. ... It does what it does very well. Although An edited book, the editor has kept duplication to a minimum, indeed to a minimum that reinforces rather than duplicates arguments. Anyone who writes on Russia is always worried that events will very rapidly overtake publication. In the case of this book that might appear at first glance to be a problem. In fact the events in Ukraine make it a particularly timely book, which will retain its utility for some time to come regardless of what transpires in that part of the world.' e-International Relations 'The greatest strength of the volume is precisely that it brings together an impressive amount of different perspectives that complement and reinforce each other's findings. ... this volume is doubtless of added value in the field
