Geopolitics and Energy
This course introduces students to key concepts and cases to understand how interrelated political, security-related, regulatory and structural/physical factors shape national and international energy policies and relations. The course discusses the following:
- History and changing structure of the petroleum industry,
- Growth of renewable energy sources and the politics of climate change,
- Role of international politics and organizations in shaping energy markets and choices,
- Energy security challenges and strategies at national and international levels,
- Energy poverty challenges, solutions, outlooks,
- Petroleum revenues and political development (key concepts like dutch disease, resource curse),
- The role of private sector actors in shaping energy markets,
- Private sector-state-society relations in petroleum rich countries (CSR, equity questions),
- Policy approaches to infrastructure and innovation challenges
Knowledge
- have advanced knowledge about key contemporary and historical trends that shape policy choices in energy producing and consuming countries:
- have thorough knowledge of core concepts relating to the socio-political side of energy markets, such as energy security, Dutch disease, energy poverty, resource curse and corporate social responsibility;
- can analyze implications of these trends and concepts in key case study countries and regions (i.e. Arctic/Norway, Middle East, Russia and Central Asia).
Skills
- can analyze scholarly texts on energy politics;
- can apply knowledge to today¿s energy issues and put them in a broader historical/conceptual/ institutional context;
- can analyze energy issues combining both practical knowledge of key trends/countries/regions and course concepts.
General competence
- can take a critical stance towards abstract concepts introduced in the course;
- can demonstrate ability to transfer knowledge from the energy sector to look at other key economic issues with an appreciation of cross-cutting socio-political factors of relevance.
Due to the Covid-19 epedemic, a number of assessments and exams at Nord University has been changed.
Changes are made in accordance with the Temporary Regulations on Supplements to Regulation 31/01/2019 no. 63: Concerning Studies and Examinations at Nord University - Extraordinary Measures as a Result of the Coronavirus Epidemic- according to §2 of the Corona Epidemic, Assessment Methods, Sections 1-3
To accommodate this, the form of assessment will be changed from Written School examination to Take -home Examination on this course in the spring of 2020.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
EN301E - The Geopolitics of Petroleum and Natural Gas - 5 credits