Security of Energy: The Conflict after Next? Strategic Insights, Volume 7, Issue 1
Abstract
The vulnerability of the industrialized world's energy infrastructure has been an international security concern for the last several decades. In recent years energy security has taken added significance as the need for petroleum products has grown, and the sources of these products have shifted further from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) states, to unreliable or unstable regions, primarily in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and the Greater Middle East (GME). Indeed, the last few years have only highlighted this vulnerability, such as Russia's varied disputes with her neighbors, militant activities in Nigeria and the general upswing in Islamic radicalism and hostility toward the West. The next "hot war" or global conflict of cold war proportions may be over energy and the broader impact that industry has on the international economy. What is emerging in many countries is "Oil Nationalism," in which national control of energy is the manifestation of national strength and the source of political power. Quite often, revenues from the nationalized oil companies (NOCs) are lavished on social programs of questionable value, while substantive economic or infrastructural reforms are ignored. Talk of strengthening the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, is also causing concern among energy importing nations. Natural gas can be supplanted by other sources of energy, so an exporters cartel will not have the same global impact as OPEC. Nevertheless, it is clear that gas importers, which are predominantly OECD members, are uncomfortable with the prospect of another, mostly non-OECD, cartel. Not all the concern is with carbon-based energy resources. The renewed interest in nuclear technology has the potential to generate clean and cheap energy; though, even when dedicated to civilian use, it can be converted to highly enriched, or weapons grade, uranium (HEU).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA519723
Entities
People
- Arnold C. Dupuy
- David W. Hamon
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School