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Presidency of the Council of the EU and energy security. Comparison of Austrian and Czech EU Presidency
Králík, Zbyněk ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The diploma thesis "Předsednictví Rady EU a energetická bezpečnost" (The presidency and the energy security) deals with factors relevant for the presidency of the EU. The current debate is highly focused on the size of the presiding country, which leaves very little space for an alternative explanation. The main task of this thesis is therefore to enrich the debate. The main method is comparing the two presidencies on the basis of the concept of energy security. The energy security was a relevant topic due to the context of the presidencies given by the interruptions in gas supply from Russia. Both countries differed in three relevant factors: the foreign orientation (relationship to Russia), the presidency style and the type of coordination mechanism. This diploma thesis tests the relevance of these factors on the presidency.
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Emergence of the Common Energy Policy of the EU in the context of EU-Russia Energy Cooperation
Radová, Ivana ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
This master thesis The emergence of the Common energy policy of the EU in the context of the EU-Russia energy cooperation aims to answer the question of whether Russia with its aggressive energy policy (gas crisis, gas pipeline projects) stands behind the EU's inability to advance a strong Common energy policy despite all its efforts. By analysing the member states' behaviour in relation to the key development in the energy field, we will be able to assess Russia's influence. The thesis will then demonstrate that it is the divergent national policies of the member states that stand behind the EU's inability to push forward a Common energy policy. The member states, in the pursuit of the maximization of benefits, support the Common energy policy only if it aligns with their national interests. The categorization of the member states based on their dependence on Russian gas and the size of their gas markets in relation to Russian gas exports will provide broadly representative conclusions about the member states behaviour towards the Common energy policy based on these two variables.
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The Influence of Natural Resource Dependency on US Foreign Policy. Case Study: the Persian Gulf War
Ducháč, Tomáš ; Žídková, Markéta (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The goal of this work is to analyze what role the dependence on natural resources played in US foreign policy in the Persian Gulf War. Natural resources and especially oil were inseparable component of the US economic development from the second part of the 20th century. Regardless of the continuous effort of government administration the US was not able reduce its dependency on import of foreign resources. The reliance on world market and the effort to control its dependency through the control of natural resources located beyond the US boarders led to the projection of these issues to the US foreign policy. The first chapter of the work is theoretical and deals with the views of particular authors on the determinants of US foreign policy in regard to natural resources. The situation of the US was characterized by hegemonic position, which enabled the US to pursue its interest on a global scale. The second chapter analyses the development of US natural resource dependency in respect to the US economy from the beginning of the 20th century to the Persian Gulf War. The chapter identifies the most important natural resources and the strategic significance of the Persian Gulf. The final chapter evaluates the role natural resources had on America's decision to enter the war.
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Geopolitics of Oil
Odintsov, Nikita ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The aim of the Geopolitics of Oil is to find a theoretical conceptualization of oil trade regime evolution and its changes during the period between the end of the World War II and 2011. This thesis builds on the two major theories of international relations: neorealism and interdependence theory. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes their main contributions and weaknesses. This enables to formulate the new approach to political economy of oil with a special emphasis on geo-economics. This thesis seeks to answer two main research questions: 1) "Under which conditions do oil exporters consolidate their energy sector?" and 1) "What is the reason for engagement of foreign powers in the oil regions?" This thesis examines relations between exporters from the Persian Gulf and the United States. Interdependence theory is tested by a calculation of symmetry or asymmetry in interdependent relationship between importers and exporters, which is done by a comparison of the market shares between the two during the period of changes in the oil trade regimes. Neorealist theory and political economy of oil approach are examined through detailed case studies that inquire how oil importers and exporters have tried to use oil to pursue their own power interests. This thesis concludes that the geopolitics of oil...
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Caspian natural gas and its relevance for strengthening the EU energy security: challenge for the 21st century?
Binhack, Petr ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Jakš, Jaroslav (referee) ; Litera, Bohuslav (referee)
This thesis focuses on the discussion of the diversifying natural gas imports into the European Union and the role played by the Caspian region in this respect. The aim of the thesis is to describe the European Union's energy policy in the natural gas sector and to analyze the role of Caspian natural gas and the project of the Southern Gas Corridor. The question of relevance of the Caspian natural gas for strengthening the European Union's energy security comes along at the right time in the current debate on the further development of climate and energy policy. The policy, along with the draft framework for the creation of the Energy Union of 2015, integrates previously parallel European policies related to fight against climate change, energy security, internal energy market and external energy relations with third countries. The thesis is based on the hypothesis that the Caspian region is an alternative resource region capable of providing a diversification of natural gas imports to the European Union. The basic research questions are the following; "Is the European Union capable of influencing the conditions under which Caspian gas will be transported to Europe?" and "Is the Southern Gas Corridor capable of meeting the expectations of its planned volume of 60-120 billion cubic meters of natural...
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Influence of international energy security on exploitation of unconventional sources of gas and oil in the Euro-Atlantic area
Havránková, Magdaléna ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The diploma thesis "Influence of international energy security on shale gas mining in euro-atlantic area" deals with the possibility of developing commercial shale gas mining operations in Europe. Due to increase of gas consumption in Europe and without Europe's own sufficient production, its dependence on gas imports is growing, especially on the imports from Russian Federation. Although thanks to the development of LNG natural gas could become a global commodity in the future, the natural gas markets still maintain a regional character for the moment. This situation could be used for political objectives by some actors, such as Russia's temporary suspension of gas imports to Europe in 2006 and 2009. As a reaction to development of commercial unconventional shale gas production in USA, some of the EU members turned their attention to their own shale gas deposits in order to bolster their energy security. The stance of the individual countries differs however, with some of the countries imposing research moratoria (France, Bulgaria, Czech Republic), while some other countries expressing significant interest in the research of possible production on their territory (United Kingdom, Poland). The thesis is primarily concerned with analysis of the relation between development of international relations...
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Environmental Security in the Czech Republic: An Analysis of the energy mix
Šumavský, Ondřej ; Binhack, Petr (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
This thesis examines the concept of environmental security in regards to its historical development and current classification in the security studies discourse. It analyzes its relationship to the concept of energy security and explains some other relevant concepts used in this study. It then carefully chooses four determinants of environmental security which are most relevant for assessing the energy mix of the Czech Republic. The evaluation of the current energy mix is then compared to the state and composition of the country's energy mix in 2040 as outlined in the New State Energy Concept (NSEC) of 2013. Reflecting on the changes of the energy mix presented in NSEC reveals the actual impact of the future version of the energy mix on the environmental security in the Czech Republic. The thesis further identifies other important factors to consider when making strategic decisions about the composition of the energy mix and energy policy in general. To conclude, a reflection on the implications of this study both on the concept of environmental security and the Czech energy decision-making is offered.
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Comparison of energy security of the Czech and Slovak republic
Haringová, Ingrida ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The main objective of this thesis is to compare energy security of the Czech and Slovak republic. The comparison is done through the energy mix and the diversification of energy commodities' sources (coil, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy/fuel and renewable sources). The sustainable development and commitments to the European Union are taken into account. The author uses the state documents, The Update of State Energy Concept of CR and The Proposal of Energy Policy of SR, and from foreign and domestic statistical documents. Review of energy sources is done through its part in the energy mix, data about sources in the energy mix, data about sources' homeland occurrence, but also import and about the shorterm trends in their usage. In the theoretical part of the work, the author studies the concept of energy security in two theoretical concepts, liberalism and realism and then studies its polysemic nature.
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Geopolitics of Oil
Odintsov, Nikita ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The aim of the Geopolitics of Oil is to find a theoretical conceptualization of oil trade regime evolution and its changes during the period between the end of the World War II and 2011. This thesis builds on the two major theories of international relations: neorealism and interdependence theory. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes their main contributions and weaknesses. This enables to formulate the new approach to political economy of oil with a special emphasis on geo-economics. This thesis seeks to answer two main research questions: 1) "Under which conditions do oil exporters consolidate their energy sector?" and 1) "What is the reason for engagement of foreign powers in the oil regions?" This thesis examines relations between exporters from the Persian Gulf and the United States. Interdependence theory is tested by a calculation of symmetry or asymmetry in interdependent relationship between importers and exporters, which is done by a comparison of the market shares between the two during the period of changes in the oil trade regimes. Neorealist theory and political economy of oil approach are examined through detailed case studies that inquire how oil importers and exporters have tried to use oil to pursue their own power interests. This thesis concludes that the geopolitics of oil...
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