1. NS4960 Summer Term 2019 Fuels Paradise, Chapter 1 The Puzzle: Diverse Responses to Energy Insecurity

2. Overview 1970s saw a big increase in concerns over energy security
Major countries undertook major reviews of their energy policies
Initiated significant changes
As in 1970s 2000s saw proposals for additional efforts within International Energy Agency (IEA), NATO, and the European Union (EU)
Two periods not that comparable
1970s concern mainly over high oil prices and uncertainty about supplies
2000s much more diverse concerns

3. Diversity of Concerns
U.S. focus continued to be on reducing dependence on foreign oil
France it was aging nuclear power plants
U.K. the problem was how to manage transition from self-sufficiency in fossil to being a net importer of oil, and especially gas
Germany energy security worries centered on the reliability of foreign natural gas supplies, especially from Russia
As a result of these differences the responses varied considerably

4. Different Approaches I
Despite common interests in energy efficiency and diversifying energy supplies significant differences in approaches
Emphasis on government intervention
Market liberalization,
Nuclear power,
Renewable energy sources and
Foreign policy initiatives
Even in the 1970s developed democracies responded to energy insecurity in different ways
Distinct mixes of external and internal policy instruments to address their concerns

5. Differences in Approaches II
Major differences in
Development and promotion of alternatives to oil, such a as nuclear power and gas
The reduction of energy consumption, energy efficiency
Stances toward the oil-export regions of world especially in Persian gulf
Differences reflect limited degree of cooperation even under the IEA wich was established expressly for that purpose

6. Objectives I
Puzzling patterns were the motivation for the book, which has three main objectives
First, describe in comparative perspective how major developed democracies have responded to concerns over energy security
What particular energy security problems have the countries faced?
What policy options have they had at their disposal?
What choices among those options have they made?

7. Objectives II
Second is to provide a theoretically informed explanation of state responses to energy security both across space and over time
Why have the major developed democracies made—and not made– particular choices?
What factors best account for the principal similarities and differences in their approaches and policies
Of particular interest is understanding the reasons fro the observed variations in state responses.

8. Objectives III
Third purpose is to explore the implications of these response and their determinants – especially for international cooperation to promote energy security
What are the prospects for, and principal obstacles to cooperation at the regional and global levels?
What degree to they face common problems that lend themselves to joint approaches?
In what ways could differences in their concerns and preferred policy responses limit their ability to work together?
Book primarily concerned with state responses to energy security

9. Main Arguments Book makes four broad arguments.
First concerns the determinants of policy responses to energy security
Emphasis is on the strength of the state
Second addresses the impact of earlier policy choices on later energy security concerns and policy decisions
So-called policy legacies – path dependence.
Third relates to the obstacles to international cooperation to promote energy security and
Fourth regards the impact of recent developments in the production and distribution of energy
especially the fracking revolution on the prospects for achieving energy security