Overview

Gazprom's January cutoff of gas supplies to Europe was the result of the latest of a series of disputes between Russia and Ukraine over gas pricing and supply issues.  If nothing else, the cutoff demonstrated the degree to which the energy sector is politicized.  Gas disputes are fascinating because they represent the confluence of high politics, geostrategy, economic development, and private business interests with energy economics.  Although it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, this discussion will consider the influence of these factors and how they contribute to differing interpretations of the cutoff.

Preparatory Readings

Russia Restores Gas to Ukraine, NYTimes, Jan 20th 2009.

Putin's Grasp of Energy Drives Russian Agenda, NYTimes, Jan 28th 2009.

Ukraine's Gas Sector, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, June 2007.

Beyond Dependence: How to Deal with Russian Gas, European Council on Foreign Relations, November 2008.

Gazprom's Politicization of Energy and the January Shutoff of Europe's Gas Supply

07:00-08:00PM Thursday, February 19, 2009
Leader: Mladen Nešic (Fletcher)
Location: R&D Pub