Abstract
Energy geopolitics is a crucial intersection of international relations, resource management, and global governance. It explores how energy shapes power dynamics between nations. This field examines the strategic role of energy as both an economic necessity and a driver of geopolitical strategies. Energy geopolitics is framed by various theoretical perspectives, including realism's focus on the competitive nature of resource acquisition to maintain state power, liberalism's emphasis on institutional cooperation for global energy management, and constructivism's emphasis on the cultural and normative factors shaping energy policies and discourses. A key concern within energy geopolitics is energy security, which reflects states' efforts to ensure stable and affordable energy supplies amid evolving challenges such as the rise of renewable energy and critical mineral dependencies. Strategic energy infrastructure, like pipelines and grids, is a crucial tool in geopolitical manoeuvring, as it provides states with influence over energy flows and market access. However, the digitization of these systems introduces vulnerabilities, particularly to cyberattacks. Case studies, such as the European Green Deal, illustrate the dual potential of energy as both a tool for cooperation and a source of conflict. This review endeavours to assess the reciprocity between energy, governance, and policy. By doing so, key insights pertaining to accentuating dynamics of the rapidly changing global energy landscape within the ambit of global geopolitics are emanated.
