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Energy security in the South Caucasus region (Armenia as security challenge)
Ďuraňa, Tomáš ; Dubský, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Knotková, Vladimíra (referee)
The thesis deals with the issue of energy security in geopolitically strategic region of South Caucasus. The focus is on analyzing the development of energy policy in the individual countries of the region since the collapse of the Soviet union. On this basis is determined the most important security challenge: Armenia. This challenge results from the need to counteract the influence of external actors in the region and to address long-standing regional conflicts that would contribute not only to the stability of the South Caucasus, but also help to fully realize the potential of the region as an important transit corridor for Caspian and Iranian energy resources.
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The Russian Geopolitics of Energy
Vlčková, Kateřina ; Maslowski, Nicolas (advisor) ; Cibulková, Petra (referee)
This Thesis is titled The Energy Geopolitics of Russia and its main purpose is to analyze the energy geopolitics of Russia and the country's shifting energeopolitical pivot to Asia, especially to China. The Thesis is divided into three respective sections -- a theoretical approach, Russian geopolitics of energy, and one descriptive and exploratory case study. It strives to answer three main research questions considering Russia's shifting energeopolitical pivot, Ukraine crisis, and the development of Russia's foreign policy in regard to her energy geopolitics.
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Geopolitical Implications of the Eastern Partnership
Maťašovský, Jozef ; Dubský, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Novotná, Yvona (referee)
In my work I have focused on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) as an instrument of EU (foreign) policy towards its eastern neighbors with regard to the geopolitical implications of collaboration through the given initiative. My ambition has been to identify the potential benefits of initiating the project, especially in political-security and energy aspects. The first chapter focuses on the theoretical concept of geopolitics as well as the geopolitical definition of the East-European region. The second chapter is devoted to the conceptualisation of the EaP as an specific instrument of the European foreign policy as well as the concrete implementation of the EaP in practice. The third chapter deals with particular relevance to this project with the (geo)strategic objectives of the EU as well as the analysis of the EaP in terms of effective functioning.
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National model of social-economic reforms of Uzbekistan and cooperation with countries of European Union
Karimov, Dilshodjon ; Jeníček, Vladimír (advisor) ; Kašpar, Václav (referee) ; Konečný, Čestmír (referee) ; Wahla, Arnošt (referee)
The presented dissertation is devoted to the problems of transition economy efficient functioning of Uzbekistan based on the Uzbek model of economic reforms and distinctive futures, and factors which are impacting to form national models: mentality, religion and confessional orientation, integration and participation in the world community, national treasure and political structure of government, geopolitical and economical situation, communication, culture and tradition. The key problems, such as reaching macroeconomic stability and social orientation of economy, strengthening plural economy, integration of Uzbekistan to the world community are discussed in the theme. Economic reforms in Uzbekistan begun due to real opportunities of national economy and mentality of the nation. National construction model of the economic reform of Uzbekistan relied on the principal positions such as social orientation, problem solution of economic stabilization, macroeconomic increase, economic regulations based on market principle, liberalization of economy by minimization of government control ("invisible hand"), keeping the government to play an active role in solving social problems and having a chance to select potential foreign investment. World economy and international policy come out in the united block, changing with places as the subject and the object. Thus, international economic relation represent by itself the alloy of the economy and policy, brought to the level of adoption and realization of the administrative solutions and rivalry in modern world, determination of forms and methods of development and improvement of the market economy, that became an important factor of social development and solution of the crucial problems of economic and social progress. Taking into consideration all these, the work is built by the logic and contemporary principles of international economic relations. The dissertation begins with the introduction part, where the importance of the theme is substantiated, the purposes and tasks are formulated, the object is selected, and the subjects of experiment, scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of work is reflected; continuing the study with the further main parts of the dissertation that analyze and evaluate the key problems to be solved. It is formed taking into account the logical sequence of the theme and solution of both theoretical and systematic problems of the formation and reformation under the contemporary conditions. The first part of the dissertation, under the title: "Theoretical-methodological bases of the national model of the economic reforms of Uzbekistan", analyses the survey of the international experience of transition into the market relations, and also special features, principles and stages of forming the national model of Uzbekistan. In part "Foreign economic policy of Uzbekistan - the mechanism of their realization" the special features of commercial and economic reformation, change in principles and priorities of foreign economic policy, their interrelation taking into account by world financial and economic crisis are investigated. The third part assesses the geopolitical situation, prospects for the development of collaboration and strategy of the European Union towards the CA region and evaluates the significance of Afghanistan. In the further part "Uzbekistan and the European states: priorities and directions of their collaboration", the export relations of the republic with the European Union countries is investigated, and also the future prospect for the development of collaboration is evaluated. To conclude the main challenges of transition economy of the country on the base of Uzbek model of economic reforms are identified and the proposals are formulated, that occurred as a result of a study. It is necessary to point out that the years of independence became the time of the active entry of Uzbekistan into the international arena, the dynamic conduction of independent policy. The collaboration of young Uzbek state with the countries of Europe with the qualitatively new content was filled. Being located in the heart of central Asia, sovereign Uzbekistan actively participates in the European program of strengthening stability and safety in Europe and Asia, strengthening democratic values. Commercial and economic, political, cultural and scientific connections consecutively deepen. They contribute in forming and development of the democratic state with free market economy in Uzbekistan, steady integration of the country into the world community, to increase its respect, significance and authority in the international arena.
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Ukraine’s Position in Eurasian Transport of Oil and Natural Gas
Ruban, Andriy ; Vošta, Milan (advisor) ; Jeníček, Vladimír (referee) ; Wahla, Arnošt (referee) ; Terem, Peter (referee)
The thesis focuses on theoretical and empirical analysis of oil and natural gas flows in Eurasia and maps Ukraine's transit position in the regional oil and gas supply chain. The aim of the thesis is to objectively evaluate possibilities of Eurasian energy integration by enlargement of the European energy market further to the East and to prospect Ukraine's involvement into a new geopolitical energy alliance, driven by EU. This dissertation builds up on economical, geographical, historical and political premises of markets integration as well as system approach of energy alliances development. It argues that (i) energy integration on contrary to traditional economic stream can be explained by system approach and geopolitical stream of energy expansionism; (ii) EU infrustructural oil and gas projects imply deeper integration of EU member-states with involed non-members and (iii) Ukraine's oil and gas transit status within Eurasian region facilitates its growing involvement into EU energy intiatives guided by the European rules. The thesis is organized into three chapters. The first one is predominately theoretical and seeks to summarize current theoretical approaches towards integration and trends of energy markets in Eurasia. The second chapter introduces the role of oil and gas transport capacities and Ukraine's transit status in resolving disparities of Eurasian energy supply chain. The third chapter describes condition of Ukrainian oil and gas infrastructure and tackles issues for reformation of national oil and gas transit pipelines. Securing access to energy supplies has been a driving factor of global development since the industrial revolution. Increasing demand for oil and gas has undermined energy and economic security of world centers. In Eurasia Europe and Asia has been competing for fossil fuels originating from Russia, Middle East and Central Asia. Since recently Eurasian energy security problem is being solved by development of new supply routes. These infrastructural projects are initiated by oil and gas consumers, suppliers and transitors competing over control in the infrastructure. Such competition destabilises Eurasian relations, leads to energy "wars", political conflicts and increases supplies disruption risks. To secure stability of energy supply chain producers, transitors and consumers of oil and gas resources should integrate, closely cooperate and jointly invest into improving the existing supply routes and efficiency of fuels consumtion, production and transportation. Oil and gas should be traded for technologies and capital securing control in the infrustucture of mutual interests. Development of further bilateral and multilateral tools of joint interest would also help in resolving energy related contradictions of the participating parties. The leading role in driving energy integration in Eurasia belongs to the EU being the most mature and advanced integration grouping in Eurasia. EU realises TEN-e projects and from recently a common foreign energy policy aimed to strengthen external cooperation with oil and gas suppliers and transitors, including Ukraine. Since 1970s Ukraine has been an important oil and gas transitor for Russian and Central Asian oil and gas to Europe. Ukrainian pipelines intermediate 10 % of oil and 50 % of gas imports of Europe. To counterbalance Russian energy diplomacy over Ukraine, EU is supporting Ukraine's efforts in such energy alliances as INOGATE or GUAM. Ukraine's recent accession to the South Eastern-European Energy Community should improve stability of gas and oil supplies to Europe and facilitate reformation of national transit capacities.
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Geopolitics of South Caucasus
Zacpalová, Lucie ; Nechvátal, Martin (advisor) ; Novotná, Yvona (referee)
The thesis presents geopolitical situation of South Caucasus region in relation to Europe, with focus on the European Union. Specific geopolitical conditions of the South Caucasus led from the emergence of independent states in this area to so called "new great game" of interests of global powers. The relationship of the European Union to the South Caucasus developed in the time and in the thesis is presented on the background of this "game". The armed conflict of Georgia and Russia from August 2008 was a radical event in many aspects. And the European Union played one of the most important roles in it. With regard to a quite limited character of previous cooperation, this was a challenge for change in the European approach to the region. The goal of the thesis is whether the European Union managed to orient itself in the new geopolitical conditions of the region and succeeded to take advantage of such a possibility.
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The foreign policy of the USA in the period of second Bush's administration
Matoušková, Hana ; Veselý, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Matějka, Zdeněk (referee)
This bachelor thesis reports on the foreign policy of the United States during the second administration of president George W. Bush. The foreign policy is subjected to a larger international context. The initial chapter summarizes some landmarks of the Bush's first administration, second chapter describes the official goals published in the Strategic Plan 2007-2012 (the document of the US State Department). The thesis is laying stress on the real steps of the Bush's government in the foreign realm from the characteristic of bilateral relations with the important states to negotiating in some distressed areas. There are mentioned the global trends for the year 2025 and the probable US position on the international scene in the future. The last chapter reflects on the change in the presidency and estimates in what measure will be the Obama's administration continual to the previous one in the leading of US diplomacy.
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Current issues facing the European energy policy
Kopp, Vojtěch ; Žamberský, Pavel (advisor)
The thesis deals with the major issues facing the European energy policy: the liberalisation of energy markets, security of supply and combating the climate change. After a short description of the history of this policy comes the explanation why the energy issues have become so important for the EU in recent years (oil thirst of the emerging markets, rise of Putin's Russia, climate change). The next chapter focuses on EU's response to these challenges, focusing on Barroso's Commision agenda. Apart from this, there is an analysis of major stakeholders' reactions concerning the recent legislation (Energy packages). However, the main part of the thesis tries to point at the discrepancies between the "official" policy as pronounced at the EU summits and the actual state of things. Major lagging behind can be found in areas such as the extent to which the external energy policy is successful (relations with Russia), the questionable impacts of subsidising biofuels or the slow implementation of energy market directives.
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