A Research Agenda for Energy Politics (Hardcover)

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Presenting cutting-edge research on the future of energy geopolitics, this visionary and provocative Research Agenda takes a hard look at the pressing issues faced by energy researchers in the new world (dis)order. Analyzing through three distinct lenses of affordability, security and sustainability, this innovative book begins by tracking the history and evolution of energy politics. Leading experts in the field identify the sources of instability within world energy markets, the problems of capital allocation to finance a growing demand for smart and renewable energy, and the benefits and costs of geo-economic shifts. A global range of case studies discuss the future of energy geopolitics, asking pressing questions about the deployment of clean energy technology, the implications of hydrocarbon price climbing, and the feasibility and possibilities of space mining. Ultimately, the book seeks to elucidate the uncertainties, paths, and impacts of the future developments in the energy transition and clearly define a future research agenda for energy politics. In doing so, it attempts to capture the complexity and constraints facing energy and its different sources — some that are complementary, some that compete with one another. Interdisciplinary and international in scope, this book will prove vital to students and scholars interested in energy security, politics and policy, alongside those studying energy markets and finance. It will also prove useful to policymakers and organizations in the energy sector concerned with the future of energy.