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Energy in Soviet-East European bargaining

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5169176

This dissertation argues that the process by which the Soviet Union and the states of Eastern Europe have reached decisions on energy issues from 1955 to 1979 has been an international bargaining process. An overview of Soviet East European agreements on energy cooperation shows the increased complexity of this cooperation and its increased importance to these states. Next, Soviet exports to Eastern Europe from 1955-1979 of four types of energy petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and solid fuels - are compared with economic and political variables that distinguish the East European states. In terms of three different aspects of these four energy types - the quantity delivered, the price charged, and the degree of implicit economic subsidy produced - the states that benefit from Soviet fuel are the ones that spend the highest proportion of their gross national product on defense, an indicator of a pro-Soviet orientation. The data analyses do not show, however, that the Soviet Union has made short term changes in its energy exports in order to influence East European policies.

Research Organization:
Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor (USA)
OSTI ID:
5169176
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English