Energy security

Few issues now sit higher on the political agenda than the security of energy supplies, and this is unlikely to change soon. Some of the world's largest energy exporters, including the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, are marked by instability and armed conflict. Meanwhile, rapidly expanding consumers like China are reshaping the global politics of energy. Many of the world's poorest people lack reliable power, while the wealth of oil and gas often flows to ruling elites and corporations rather than to those who need it. Continued reliance on fossil fuels adds further strain on the planet.

Roland Dannreuther sets out a broad and up-to-date framework for thinking about energy security, drawing on recent work in security studies. He approaches security as a value that constantly competes with other core values, such as economic growth and environmental sustainability. The physical characteristics of coal, oil, gas, nuclear power and renewables certainly shape how insecurity appears in each case. Yet the social, economic and political conditions that have taken shape across different places and periods are central to understanding today's energy problems.

The book traces the history and politics of energy security and shows how power and justice shape the way these debates are framed. Its analysis is sharp and current, and it is written with students in mind as a leading starting point for anyone trying to grasp the intricacies of the subject.