Development of Soviet interest in east-west energy cooperation in Europe, 1971-1981

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6374030

Tidd, J M

Two basic questions are addressed: what key factors encouraged Moscow to strengthen its focus on Western Europe as its primary Western energy partner; and to what extent did the Soviets perceive the East-West energy relationship as creating the potential for political leverage. These questions are approached in four stages: (1) a theoretical chapter argues that achievement of international political influence through manipulation of economic ties depends heavily on the cost-benefit calculations made by the initiator and the target of a leverage attempt; (2) a primarily quantitative chapter discusses basic Soviet motivations for seeking greater Western help - the advantage of large, exportable energy resources, offset by the vulnerability arising from major Soviet systemic problems in developing those resources; (3) several chronological chapters trace the growth of Soviet interest in European-focused energy cooperation; (4) a final chapter concludes that Soviet cost-benefit calculations argued against seeking broad energy-based leverage against Europe. Moscow during 1971-81 was primarily seeking politically stable East-West energy ties under which Siberian energy could reliably develop. Because Europe gradually appeared the most reliable partner, the Soviets were reluctant to risk weakening those ties by exploiting them for broader political purposes.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6374030
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENERGY SUPPLIES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
USSR
ENERGY POLICY
WESTERN EUROPE
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
ASIA
COOPERATION
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
292000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation