The Energy Politics of Russia and Eurasia

Abstract

As one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters, Russia is a key player in the global energy arena. It also plays a unique role in the former Soviet Union (FSU) as the largest producer and exporter, as well as an important transit country. Even though Soviet-era dependencies have been progressively eroding, Soviet infrastructural, economic, and political legacies continue to influence energy relations in the FSU. This chapter’s review of the literature reveals clear differences among the research foci of various academic communities. Research has often focused on policy and technical rather than theoretical issues, continuing to focus on traditional geopolitical thinking rather than on future-oriented concerns. Promising topics for further research include deeper understanding of the inner workings of decision-making processes and what global changes, such as the low carbon transition, could mean for the region.