Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper explains the transformation of Russian foreign policy concerning the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) by focusing on key decision makers’ conception of the Russian national interest in this policy area. The ECT is a multilateral, intergovernmental legal agreement governing the international exchange of energy. It is the largest and most important legal instrument governing international energy markets.Based on the analysis of key actors’ statements made during January, 2000 to December, 2003, the paper argues that the policy change cannot be explained by structural realism, theories of democracy, leadership, or culture. Instead, the paper argues that Russian policy changed because of a transformation in decision makers’ conception of the national interest. The national interest changed due to a conjuncture of three processes: 1) the production of new knowledge by opponents of the ECT and especially Gazprom, 2) the appointment of a close associate of President Putin to the head of Gazprom which created an effective lobbyist against the ECT , and 3) policy events produced by the EU that became discursive resources for opponents to argue effectively against the ECT. The contributions of this paper are three-fold. The transformation of ECT policy presents a “critical case” that adjudicates between structural realism and constructivism. It also elaborates the theoretical mechanism by which ideas change. Finally, it points to an important transformation in the architecture of the international system, to a contest over the structure of international energy markets, and to the erosion of the hegemony of neo-liberal thinking in Russia.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Shortcomings in meeting national energy policy objectives as well as threats posed by climate change put pressure on Indian energy politics to consider alternative options such as enhanced renewable energy deployment. The challenge is how to assist emerging economies such as India to leapfrog a polluting development path by facilitating the transition to alternative sources of power generation. The research question tackled in this paper hence asks how and to what extent new modes of governance such as the CDM contribute to �greening� India by facilitating the diffusion of renewable energy?
Ecological modernisation theories argue that deviating from conventional development paths is possible and emphasise the potential for leapfrogging development stages. The central argument of this paper holds that international policy instruments such as the CDM contribute to greening Indian energy policy firstly by enhancing renewable energy deployment through technology transfer and secondly by instilling a political re-orientation through norms diffusion. Yet, the embeddedness approach cautions against overly optimistic assessments arguing that and alternative development path is possible, however, under the conditions that context conditions and path dependencies are given due consideration.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper engages with recent shifts in the contestation over energy resources, by analyzing the role and growing influence of non-triad state-owned energy transnationals and assessing its implications for the global governance of energy security. Energy

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper explains changes in Russian Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) thinking, preferences, and policy. The ECT is a multilateral agreement governing the international exchange of energy. It institutionalizes cooperation into the global energy economy, influences “who gets what,” and is a key concern for Europe and Russia. These shifts were turning points in Russian energy policy, its posture in the contest over the structure of international energy markets, and its position in the international system. The evidence suggests that these changes are not adequately explained by structural realism, regime type, economic sector/factor theories, standard political elite explanations, leadership, or culture. Instead, I argue that Russian policy shifted due to a transformation of decision makers’ conception of the national interest. The contributions are: 1) identifying background ideas to be an important element in explaining preference change; 2) demonstrating that the preference change process differs significantly from what has been suggested by previous research; and 3) developing a conceptual framework and a methodology for studying preference changes in a way that is more reliable than the approaches presently available.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The paper looks into the historical relationship between energy, (technological progress and) industrial growth and politics for six time periods from the Industrial Revolution up until today. The main proposition of the paper is that energy has been a cr