The “Tight Oil Revolution” and its Consequences for the European Union: A “Wake-up Call” for its Neglected Energy Security

Susanne Peters

doi:10.5771/0175-274x-2014-3-170

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- 153–181 Themenschwerpunkt 153–181
  - 153–158 Toward a Transatlantic Strategy of Peace Christopher Holshek Christopher Holshek 153–158
  - 159–163 Europa allein zuhause? Der U.S.-Schwenk nach Asien und seine Folgen für den „alten Kontinent“ Sven Bernhard Gareis Sven Bernhard Gareis 159–163
  - 164–170 Chinas Aufstieg und geopolitische Herausforderungen für die transatlantische Gemeinschaft Katharina Götsch Katharina Götsch 164–170
  - 170–175 The “Tight Oil Revolution” and its Consequences for the European Union: A “Wake-up Call” for its Neglected Energy Security Susanne Peters Susanne Peters 170–175
  - 176–181 Seemacht und Geopolitik: Wandel in der US-Marinepräsenz birgt neue Betätigungsfelder für die Marinen der europäischen Staaten Sebastian Bruns Sebastian Bruns 176–181
- 182–186 Dokumentation 182–186
  - A Call for New Thinking: Geopolitics, Security, Economics The Honorable Stuart E. Eizenstat The Honorable Stuart E. Eizenstat
- 187–214 Beiträge aus Sicherheitspolitik und Friedensforschung 187–214
  - 187–193 Fußball zwischen Krieg und Frieden. Anmerkungen zu einem fast philosophischen Thema Hans-Georg Ehrhart Hans-Georg Ehrhart 187–193
  - 193–200 Economic and Political Restraints for Reducing the Drug Economy in Afghanistan Akmal Sokhibov Akmal Sokhibov 193–200
  - 201–205 Lehren aus 10 Jahren Aktionsplan Zivile Krisenprävention – Wie weiter? Winfried Nachtwei Winfried Nachtwei 201–205
  - 206–211 10 Jahre Aktionsplan Zivile Krisenprävention Martina Fischer Martina Fischer 206–211
  - 212–214 Vorrang für zivile Friedensförderung – Empfehlungen Cornelia Brinkmann Cornelia Brinkmann 212–214
- 215–227 Forum 215–227
  - Blinde Flecken im Diskurs über den Ukraine-Konflikt Gerhard Simon, Martin Malek, Tatyana Parkhalina, Hans J. Gießmann, Paul Reuber, Wolfgang Zellner, Hanne-Margret Birckenbach Gerhard Simon, Martin Malek, Tatyana Parkhalina, Hans J. Gießmann, Paul Reuber, Wolfgang Zellner, Hanne-Margret Birckenbach
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S&F Sicherheit und Frieden , Seite 170 - 175

The “Tight Oil Revolution” and its Consequences for the European Union: A “Wake-up Call” for its Neglected Energy Security

Autoren

Susanne Peters

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/0175-274x-2014-3-170
- ISSN print: 0175-274X
- ISSN online: 0175-274x
Abstract

Access to and availability of affordable oil is a key factor in the smooth functioning of any industrialized society of the world economy, particularly in oil-dependent nations like the United States and its Western allies, as well as Asian nations. Since the end of World War II, the US has exerted its military influence in the Middle East to prevent a hostile power from gaining control of the Persian Gulf, with the inevitable skyrocketing of oil prices that would follow. As the closest allies to the US, the heavily oil-dependent European states could always count on free-riding on the US’ geopolitical1 engagement in this region. But in the wake of a general withdrawal from its traditional role as a world policeman and the effects of its “tight oil revolution”, the US recently made its first moves to relax its strategic engagement in the Middle East and will revert to a policy of “risk aversion” in the event of a crisis in the Middle East. On the basis of this assumption, the article will argue that this US foreign policy shift is a concern for the Europeans, and that the EU has pursued an incomprehensive and incoherent energy security strategy, too market-driven to cope with future challenges. These challenges will be posed by potential supply outages due to a disruption crisis and the projected substantial reductions of deliveries from its traditional main suppliers. The article will further reject the option of making the current EU energy security policy more robust by militarizing it in the context of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy. While it does not recommend engaging in any kind of realist energy strategy, this paper will conclude that the EU should use this newly created geopolitical constellation as a wake-up call to design a grand energy strategy in the medium term which makes use of the EU’s political and economic power to provide a business-climate-fostering investment and trading contracts with EU oil companies in producer states. In the long term, the EU must shed its oil import dependency by transforming into a low-carbon society. The article will begin by describing the geopolitical effects of the tight oil revolution.
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