Energy, politics and society in Eurasia CEES5087

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2 (Alternate Years)
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

The course explores the construction of Eurasian energy systems within the context of global energy landscape. It will examine the embeddedness of various energy sectors (oil and gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, production, distribution, transit) in social and political institutions in the region. The course takes explicitly multi-scalar approach, and will examine the interconnectedness of energy sectors and networks at local, national, regional, and global levels. Using this perspective, it will consider the potentialities and barriers to energy transition in the region.  

Timetable

2 consecutive hours, once per week for 10 weeks

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The assessment will include group project report, with a focus on a single energy sector (25%), modelled upon International Energy Agency (IEA) fuel and country reports. Within the report structure, students will have individually assigned sections, 2000-2500 words (50%) each. They will also need to make oral presentations of their individual contributions (25%) 

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the embeddedness of Eurasian energy in social and political institutions at local, national, regional, global and planetary levels. Drawing on critical area studies perspective, the course aims to situate Eurasian energy sectors in the global energy landscape. It will explore the role of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union in the historical construction of energy sector in order to understand the current energy relations in the region and beyond and the potentialities and challenges of energy transition.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Understand how Eurasian energy systems are integrated into global energy landscape

2. Describe and explain the process of the construction of Eurasian energy systems

3. Critically assess the role of energy in social and political institutions at local, national, regional and global scales

4. Assess the challenges to the regional energy transition arising from historical legacies of Russian Imperial and Soviet organisation of energy sector 

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.