Russia’s Energy Policies
About the program
Russia has traditionally been one of the key participants in the international trade of energy resources. Historically, Russia has experience managing this trade both from a broad-based perspective and from a narrower, more targeted policy viewpoint. Now, due to a drastically changing geopolitical context, the export of energy resources-- previously a well-established activity — has to be adjusted. The world-wide trend toward decarbonization will inevitably lead to a decline in the importance—and, hence, the profitability—of the hydrocarbon economy. Besides that, Russia faces an unwillingness—based on geopolitical preferences in its key target market— to deal with its supplies. What changes are taking place in the Russian energy sector and energy exports? How will the energy companies respond? What does all this mean in the context of Russia’s energy security? Are there alternative markets for Russian energy resources? These and other questions will be discussed in this module through courses taught by Nikita Lomagin, Tatiana Romanova, and Irina Mironova.
How is the program arranged?
The program is conducted online. There is no need to worry about your location to take it. Nevertheless, we will make sure that participants have the full support of EUSP staff and professors.
The program can be taken either as an independent unit or as part of the three-module program “Energy Politics and Energy Transition in Eurasia” leading to a Master of Arts degree.
Courses
- ENERGY SECURITY AND RUSSIAN POLITICS
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Energy constitutes a major lifeline in all societies and one of the most crucial sources of maintaining and developing global life. At the same time, “the energy business” is a very complex topic. In order to understand it, one must deal with a myriad of different issues connected to this topic. The course focuses on energy policy and energy security understood in the context of global and Eurasian political economy and international relations. The course offers different perceptions of energy security in importing and exporting nations and aims at contemporary development in providing energy security on global, regional, and national levels. Special attention will be given to EU-Russia energy dialogue as well as to energy policy of the former Soviet states. Students will analyze the current developments in the energy sector from political, economic, legal, and environmental angles.
- RUSSIA–EU ENERGY RELATIONS
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The course provides students with knowledge about EU-Russian relations, which comprises ideas, interests, and institutions while focusing on various areas of EU-Russian interaction (politics, economics, security, energy). Particular attention is paid to energy as the key field of EU-Russian interdependence, which at present is fundamentally reshaped due to both peculiarities of EU-Russian relations and energy transition. The knowledge about EU-Russian relations, which the course provides, will allow students to analyze the dynamics of these relations and current trends as well as to forecast further developments and to advise on the interaction with both actors at different levels and in difference capacities.
- RUSSIA’S GAS STRATEGY
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Russia is one of the key natural gas suppliers in the world. It has large domestic market, as well as a number of significant export projects. Massive pipeline and LNG infrastructure projects connect Russia with downstream markets in both the West and East. As natural gas is considered to be an important part of the energy transition, there is much that Russian companies have to offer. Yet, they face serious challenges in the key export markets such as changing market structures, strong competition from other suppliers, sanctions, etc. In order to allow students to analyze how Russian companies deal with these challenges now and in the future, the course offers a conceptual introduction to contemporary natural gas markets, introduces key terms and methodologies, and provides the factual background about key target markets. Throughout the course, we will look into the supply and demand balances including historical perspectives of the core target markets for Russian natural gas, the existing setup in terms of the degree of market integration, market structure, regulation and governance features, competition and price setting mechanisms. Target markets for the purpose of this course will include Russian domestic market, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Specific attention will be paid to the relations between Gazprom and other Russian natural gas producing companies. The aim of the course is to provide students with the understanding of dynamic development of the natural gas markets and the place of Russian exports within the wider context.
- ACADEMIC WRITING
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Teachers
Iurii Agafonov
Nikita Lomagin
Irina Mironova
Tatiana Romanova
How to apply?
- Send an email to international@eu.spb.ru with “RUSSIA’S ENERGY POLICIES” in the subject line and ask any questions you might have.
- Fill out the application form you receive.
- Write a motivation letter.
- Have an interview with the academic director of the program.
- Receive confirmation of your enrollment.