Energy and national security in the 21st century
Energy security was a major national issue during the 1970s and 198Os. In recent years, it received less attention as the price of oil declined and as U.S. oil supplies seemed more secure. But as we plan for the next decade, we have no reason to be smug. Many experts predict that the nation is likely to become more dependent on oil imports, and that the world will increasingly rely on oil produced from the politically volatile Persian Gulf. Given current trends, some contend that the United States and the world may be headed back toward oil price shocks like those in 1973 and 1979. Others disagree, arguing that the industrialized states will no longer have to worry about dependence on Persian Gulf oil. This volume poses two central questions: (1) What does energy security mean now that energy supply is determined more and more by market forces. (2) What are the most likely circumstances under which the United States may have to apply diplomatic and military pressure to ensure orderly world energy markets. The papers collected here examine areas of the energy market of central concern for national security. They also consider energy prospects in key countries from the point of view of security, either because the countries are in volatile regions like the Persian Gulf or because they are major military as well as energy powers like Russia. These analyses represent an exciting exchange of views among people from two rather different communities: those concerned with national security and those concerned with energy and economics. Now is a good moment, while our energy supply situation is comfortable, to reflect on whether the current, rather benign situation will persist and what preparations we should make against the possibility of energy supply problems.
- Research Organization:
- National Defense Univ., Washington, DC (United States). Inst. for National Strategic Studies
- OSTI ID:
- 381643
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A--311033/5/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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