The Specter of an Oily Bear OR Geopolitical Challenges of the Modern Russian Petro-State

<p>For over one hundred years Russia has been a major oil producer. Regardless of the type of government - Czarist Communist nominal Democracy - oil has played a significant role in Russia‟s economy as a valuable export commodity. With rapid industrialization following Stalin‟s consolidation of power it also became a significant commodity for domestic use. Eventually Russians figured out that the natural gas that was associated with its oil fields was also of great value and it too became a domestic and export commodity. With its expanded Eastern European empire Soviet Russia discovered that its abundant supply of petroleum and natural gas granted it significant economic clout over its client states. Following the fall of the Soviet Union and Russia‟s disastrous economic reforms of the 1990‟s growing state re-control of the oil and gas fields and distribution coincided with an increase in world prices. Russia found itself once again a superpower only this time its coin of the realm was not military strength but energy. However to paraphrase Spiderman with great power comes great responsibility and the salient question regarding Russia‟s resurgent position is: Will Russia act responsibly?</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>