History of Energy

This course equips you with in-depth knowledge of the ways in which the access to energy carriers has been politicized by nation-states and other large corporate actors in the global arena, and with what consequences for international relations. We explore this theme from timber and coal in the pre-industrial era, to the Arctic shale gas and minerals in space today. We will take a look at the critical junctures between international security, conflict, war, power politics and technology, in a historical and analytical light. We begin with the recognition that energy has long been a major determinant of the balance of power in the international system for at least a few centuries, and that every major change in global energy consumption and production technologies has catalyzed major geopolitical shifts, with no region of the world being exempt from this fundamental relationship.

We will take a closer look at how states design long-term strategies to satisfy their energy demands, as well as at what their actions imply for other players on the global scene. The course eventually touches upon contemporary issues ranging from the energiewende, shale gas exploration, natural resource extraction in (almost) inaccessible environments (the Arctic, deep Ocean floors, space), pipeline politics, nuclear power anxiety, pollution caps, CO2 trading quotas, liquefied gas transportation, and many other topics at the very top of today’s agenda.

The course also takes a look at recent technological innovations, such as electric cars or the increasing reliability of wind and solar power, and will trace how they are changing global trade dependencies and logistical routes. We will try to imagine how these innovations could shape new alliances and exacerbate existing conflicts. Finally, we will consider whether the shift away from oil-based-economies is really a thing, and if yes – we will try to anticipate how a hypothetical new energy order could alter the global geopolitical landscape in the twenty-first century.