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Module Catalogue

PO9F5-20 Energy Security

Department
Politics & International Studies
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Kerem Öge
Credit value
20
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

The Energy Security module aims to provide students with an understanding of the critical role of energy security in contemporary society, and the complex factors that influence it. Energy is fundamental to modern economies, and the availability of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is essential for economic growth, social well-being, and political stability. However, the growing demand for energy, coupled with environmental concerns and geopolitical risks, creates significant challenges for energy security.

The module will explore the key drivers of energy security, including geopolitical factors, economic considerations, environmental issues, and technological advancements. It will examine the different types of energy sources and their relative merits, as well as the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy in enhancing energy security. Students will also explore the global governance of energy security, including the roles of international institutions and cooperation, and the challenges of balancing national interests and global priorities.

Module aims

The main aim of this module is to provide an understanding of the concept of energy security, its importance in national and international contexts, the challenges and threats to energy security, and strategies to enhance energy security. The module will examine the evolution of the concept of energy security over time and explain how it interacts with other components of energy policy such as energy prices, climate change, and energy poverty. It will supply students with an overview of the energy industry, including some of the technological and economic particulars that set it apart from the production of other commodities. The module will explain the role that energy plays in the political and economic development of individual countries. It will also show how energy may initiate either conflict or cooperation at the international level.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1 – Introduction to Energy Politics
Week 2 - Energy security and geopolitics: Core theories and perspectives
Week 3 – Energy Governance and International Regimes
Week 4 – Energy Trilemma and Climate Change
Week 5 – The Resource Curse: Energy, Development, Democracy and Conflict
Week 6 – The Reading Week
Week 7 – Energy Hotspots: USA – Middle East
Week 8 – Energy Hotspots: Europe – Eurasia
Week 9 – Energy Hotspots: China – Africa
Week 10 –Future of Energy: Renewables and Energy Transitions

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • have an advanced understanding of the complex role energy security plays as a key component of energy policy.
  • assess and critique the significance of current security considerations of global and regional energy markets
  • evaluate the trade-offs involved in energy policies of nation states
  • critically analyse different perspectives and concepts in energy security and apply them to specific case studies around the world

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

  1. Understand the essential role energy security plays as a key component of energy policy.
  2. Assess the significance of the security considerations of global and regional energy markets
  3. Analyse the trade-offs involved in energy policies of nation states
  4. Compare different perspectives in energy security and apply them to specific case studies around the world

Transferable skills

Critical analytical skills
Ability to write cohesively about complex political subjects
Presentation and communications skills
Specific knowledge about energy, sustainability and policy
Ability to understand and engage with energy policy debates

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 9 sessions of 2 hours (9%)
Private study 92 hours (46%)
Assessment 90 hours (45%)
Total 200 hours

Private study description

  • private study reading the core material each week to prepare for the lectures and seminars;
  • reflecting each week on the precirculated questions;
  • reading recommended material to gain a fuller understanding of the topics;

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Country Presentation 20% 10 hours No

Students will highlight the important aspects of energy security in their assigned country.
Ex. an overview of the country's economy and politics, traditional sources of supply (if it is an importing country), traditional export destinations (if it is an exporting country), significant energy routes, energy challenges, challenges for the future, the capacity of reserves in the event of an oil crisis, foreign affairs: traditional allies and the usual competitors.
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Country Position and Strategy 80% 80 hours Yes (extension)

This written assignment will be based on a classroom simulation of a global energy crisis. In the simulation each student will represent a country (or a meaningful group of countries) in a special meeting of major global powers. It consists of three sections : Country Analysis, Strategy, Summary of the Simulation.
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback will be provided to all students on each assessment giving extensive comments on comprehension, analysis, critique and presentation as well as overall comments and suggestions for improvement.

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PT MA in International Development
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1PA MA in International Politics and Europe
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9Q1 Postgraduate Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1P3 Postgraduate Taught International Political Economy
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1P8 Postgraduate Taught International Politics and East Asia
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9P9 Postgraduate Taught International Relations
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PC Postgraduate Taught International Security
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PS Postgraduate Taught Political and Legal Theory
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PF Postgraduate Taught Public Policy
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PQ Postgraduate Taught United States Foreign Policy

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1PD Postgraduate Taught the Politics of Climate Change