Book review on The Geopolitics of Energy

Abstract

Book details Favennec, JP The Geopolitics of Energy Paris: Editions Technip; 2011 312 pages, ISBN 978-2-7108-0970-8 Energy permeates all aspects of the economy. Prices and availability of energy in its different forms are major factors that structure the economy as well as the way of life of societies. Therefore, energy is an important issue of geopolitics, creating dependencies and conflicts between nations and increasingly becoming a topic in the international political arena. In his book, The Geopolitics of Energy, Jean-Pierre Favennec provides a comprehensive overview of the different strategic aspects of energy, energy markets and the development of energy issues in light of geopolitics. The book explains the ascent of energy as an ever more important political and strategic factor from a historical point of market development as well as the development and motivation of key actors in the field of energy, from governments to national and international companies as well as supra-national players such as OPEC. Besides these general insights into the role and function of major stakeholders in the global energy system, the book offers a detailed view on the political dimension of energy in different global regions. Jean-Pierre Favennec’s book captivates the reader with its richness in profound knowledge about the strategic role of energy in today’s global political system. It also provides a treasure of interesting data about energy, the energy markets, the energy supply security and the flow of energy in the global economy. In particular, the book provides a very detailed view of the energy systems within global regions with regard to the stakeholders, their mutual dependency, their role and political weight as well as the challenges and chances that these regions face in the future. It is this part of the book that provides