Global Energy Politics

by Thijs Van de Graaf, Benjamin K. Sovacool

Ever since the Industrial Revolution energy has been a key driver of world politics. From the oil crises of the 1970s to today’s rapid expansion of renewable energy sources, every shift in global energy patterns has important repercussions for international relations. 

In this new book, Thijs Van de Graaf and Benjamin Sovacool uncover the intricate ways in which our energy systems have shaped global outcomes in four key areas of world security, the economy, the environment and global justice. Moving beyond the narrow geopolitical focus that has dominated much of the discussion on global energy politics, they also deftly trace the connections between energy, environmental politics, and community activism.

The authors argue that we are on the cusp of a global energy shift that promises to be no less transformative for the pursuit of wealth and power in world politics than the historical shifts from wood to coal and from coal to oil. This ongoing energy transformation will not only upend the global balance of power; it could also fundamentally transfer political authority away from the nation state, empowering citizens, regions and local communities. 

Global Energy Politics  will be an essential resource for students of the social sciences grappling with the major energy issues of our times.

Genres: Politics

298 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2020

About the author

Thijs Van de Graaf teaches and conducts research in the areas of energy politics and international relations. His current work focuses in particular on the geopolitics and international governance of the energy transformation and decarbonisation. His most recent books include Global Energy Politics (Polity, 2020) and The Palgrave Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy (Palgrave, 2016). In 2018-2019, he served as the lead author of the report ‘A New World: The Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation’, commissioned by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Thijs Van de Graaf is a member of the editorial boards of Energy Research & Social Science (Elsevier), International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics (Springer) and Humanities & Social Science Communications (Palgrave/Nature Publishing Group). He has been an invited speaker to Princeton University (US), the Balsillie School (Waterloo), National University of Singapore, Korea Development Institute (Seoul), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (Shanghai), and Warwick Business School (UK), among others.

Reviews

[Largo Vanderkelen]

A very well researched and comprehensive overview of global energy politics and its interconnected nature in our everyday life.

[Olivier Beys]

I picked up this book after having followed Thijs Van de Graaf on Twitter for quite a while, where he makes astute observations about the latest trends on energy geopolitics. As he sometimes referrred to this book, I figured I would learn a thing or two in more detail.

Actually, as I learned after reading the first chapter, the book mainly serves as an introduction to the topic for university students. In that sense the authors aim to provide clarity and they bring structure to the topic instead of uncovering major new insights. Personally a bit of a disappointment as I was rather looking for those.

The book is descriptive and academic in style, so the authors don't take an open position regarding the energy transition. They describe the current energy landscape (albeit how the world looked like before the Russian invasion of Ukraine!), and provide a systems perspective, showing students different ways or 'frames' of looking at this landscape. I.e. a neomercantilist, market liberalist, environmentalist and egalitarian point of view. While there is a point to making these rather formal distinctions, in reality these overlap often. But as said, it is an academic book and so every contribution and interpretation is condensed in a theoretical framework, rather than in one fluid narrative.

To make a comparison with a book I read a while ago: this book is clearer, more structured and more informative than Helen Thompson's Disorder, which was very dense and opaque even for people with a solid background in energy geopolitics. Then again, while helpful for novices, the book will probably not provide much for people with some experience under their belt.

[Chendy]

Very easy to read, each concept is explained and written clearly. The book is able to map out the variables in which global energy politics established and maintained, thus it gives a diagnostic answer why fossil fuel persists despite its obvious downsides. That, however, is one of the many worldview the book provide; very holistic book.

[Emma Mrmn]

*Course material*

(The font is horrendous, not that dyslexic friendly)

[Simon Rogissart]

Boek gelezen voor de gelijknamige cursus. Interessante perspectieven en heeft de ogen geopend voor mijn interesse in energie en geopolitiek.

[Georgia Culley]

I thought this book was well written but missed a few key points. Written from one perspective but they nicely explain their points. If energy politics interest you I would highly recommend this book