Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest (Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series)

The purpose of this book is to move beyond the approach which views energy as a purely geopolitical tool of the Russian state and assumes a 'one size fits all' approach to energy security in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It argues that in order to fully understand Russian involvement in the regional energy complex, the CEE-Russian energy relationship should be analysed in the context of the political and economic transitions that Russia and the CEE states underwent. The chapters on individual countries in the book demonstrate that, although Russia has and will continue to play a substantial role in the CEE energy sector, the scope of its possible influence has been overstated. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Tables List of contributors Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1. Introduction 1.1 Energy security and Central and Eastern Europe 1.2 Purpose of the book and key findings 1.3 Structure of the book References PART I: Analytical framework 2. Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe: An IR theoretical dimension 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The historical context 2.3 Energy security in CEE – qualifying the IR framework 2.4 Conclusion References 3. Debating transition 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Transition or transformation? 3.3 Explaining the variation in post-socialist regimes 3.4 Differences between the CEE countries in the character of their post-socialist economies and polities 3.5 Future prospects Notes References 4. Russian energy companies and the Central and Eastern European energy sector 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Emergence of Russian oil and gas companies 4.3 Oil reforms drivers 4.4 From the constitution of a private oligopoly to the emergence of a powerful state-owned oil company, Rosneft 4.5 Gazprom, the dominant company in the Russian gas market 4.6 The strategies of Russian energy companies in Central and East Europe 4.7 Conclusion Notes References PART II: Case studies 5. Czech Republic 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The state of energy supplies 5.3 Periodisation: change and continuity in Russian–Czech energy relations 5.4 Privatisation, ownership and the possibilities for corruption 5.5 Czech political fragmentation and Czech sycophancy with Russia 5.6 Visible (and invisible) links between corruption and the Russian presence in the energy sector 5.7 Conclusion Acknowledgements Notes References 6. Romania 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The Romanian energy sector: an overview 6.3 Domestic factors 6.4 The Russian factor 6.5 The European factor 6.6 Conclusion Notes References 7. Poland 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Energy security, state-owned companies and politicisation of energy 7.3 Polish–Russian energy relationship 7.4 Cooperation: 1989–1999 7.5 Breakdown: 1999–2009 7.6 Rapprochement: 2009–2015 7.7 Conclusion References 8. Bulgaria 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The energy sector as a source of (in)security 8.3 Change and continuity 8.4 Playing along with Russia 8.5 Gas: the challenge of diversification 8.6 Russian oil 8.7 Electricity: the case of Belene NPP 8.8 Conclusion Notes References 9. Hungary 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Hungary’s energy sector 9.3 1990–2002: the early transition era 9.4 2002–2010: balancing interests 9.5 2010–present: Hungary First 9.6 Is there Russian influence? 9.7 Conclusion Notes References 10. Baltic States 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Vulnerabilities of the Baltic States – the systemic pressures 10.3 Victims of energy diplomacy 10.4 The challenge of EU membership 10.5 Corruption 10.6 Increasing energy security through sector specific projects 10.7 Diversification of the natural gas supply 10.8 Diversification of resources in the region 10.9 Conclusions Notes References 11. Serbia 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Serbia’s energy (in)security: the basics 11.3 (In)dependence from Russia 11.4 ‘The deal of the century’ 11.5 Serbian domestic politics and the ‘deal of the century’ 11.6 The role of the EU 11.7 Conclusion: where next? Notes References 12. Conclusion: Central and Eastern European energy security – more than Russia 12.1 The place of Russia in CEE energy security discourse 12.2 Acknowledging the role of CEE governments 12.3 What about the EU? 12.4 And what of Russia? 12.5 Conclusion Notes References Index