Geopolitics of energy versus geoenergy of politics

Abstract

This study focuses on the significance of energy resources, supply networks and security, recognizing their key role in the analysis and interpretation of national and international politics and economics. Furthermore, the pursuit of ensuring guaranteed availability of oil and natural gas in the desirable quantities is gradually expected to play a pivotal role in the foreign policies and priorities of all the countries on the planet, especially those of the 'Great Powers' having increased dependence on hydrocarbons. Due to the consequent high stakes of energy security, governments and businesses are strategically required to focus on and cope with rivalries as well as partnerships on a national, multinational and global scale. This development has led authors to revise the assessments of 'Geopolitics' and 'Geoeconomics' and look for a successful substitute approach. In the paper authors continue to discuss about own proposed new term and concept of 'Geoenergy' (Geoenergeia), justifying the added value of a respective approach. 'Geoenergy' acknowledges the existence of international approaches, like 'Geopolitics' and 'Geoeconomics' do, and even more, it may essentially be a tool searching for the main causes behind political and economic decisions, which are usually triggered by long lasting conflicts around the control of scarce energy resources. Additionally, the approach 'Geoenergy' emphasizes the energy power as a factor that contributes considerably to establishing the dominant countries and utilising their capacities over long historical periods in the world power system. The new approach 'Geoenergy' applies mainly when a 'Great Power' has a deficit in energy resources and is energy-dependent.