OAGR 2170 - Shifting Global Risks, Local Insecurity and the Energy Transition

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

This course aims at providing students with the ability to understand how the global energy transition will engage the world order in tectonic geopolitical shifts from global, regional, local and thematic perspectives. The geopolitical order that an global economy based on fossil fuel has created is being challenged by a new order. We will explore how this new order is shaped by different geographic zones of extraction/production/consumption producing or reproducing different risks, insecurities and vulnerabilities. This analysis will be conducted in the light of the heightened risks associated with the impacts of climate change. The first part of the course considers how fossil fuel has been crucial in defining global, regional and local relationships. The second part explores how these relationships are reshuffled/challenged by the nexus between natural resources depletion, energy security and environmental justice in a warming world. The last part examines how these complex shifting global risks play out in particular ‘local/regional places’.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Describe the major energy security issues facing the world and specific regions and countries today and how this may evolve going forward
• Discuss how particular countries and region view their energy strengths and challenges and how this perception impacts foreign and security policies
• Explain how geopolitics might affect energy trends and how geopolitics could be impacted by energy transition developments
• Understand the major methodological issues in linking climate change and conflicts
• Develop and write a research paper
• Evaluate and synthetize a complex set of literature

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Research and analysis;
• Critical thinking;
• Investigation;
• Written communication

Knowledge in Theories of International Relations

Written feedback will be provided for each assignment final submission; in particular the feedback to the review essay will be provided within 10 days.

• Participation 10%
• Weekly ‘flip-grid’ video analysis: My mobile phone and geopolitics – 5% of mark

Using ‘Flip-Grid’ record 5 analysis/reflections on the link between the reading of the week session and the following question: how is my mobile phone part of a global geopolitical network of risks and security? The prompts are related to the readings from each session. It means that if you decide to do a video week 2, the video will relate to the reading of week 2. To receive credit, you must record and post your analysis prior to the start of the session the prompt is for (so if you choose to respond to the prompt for 2a, you need to post it before class starts on 6 February. Each post is maximum of 1 minute and 30 seconds. You are welcome to choose between making an audio or video response. You are encouraged to also watch/listen to the responses of your colleagues before class as well. Follow this link to join the FlipGrid group [https://flip.com/d8a8aceb].

• Literature review due Thursday 24 March 5pm (CET) 35% of mark

Pick up one of the following subject:

• One member of BRICS and the energy transition
• Australia and the phasing out of coal
• East Asia and the energy transition
• Saudi Arabia and the phasing out of fossil fuel
• USA and the energy transition
• Bolivia and the energy transition
• Europe and the energy transition
• AI, Energy needs and Energy shortages
• (other topics possible: ask me)

Write a literature review of 2,500 words, which address the following question: What are the local/national implications (for the chosen topic) of the geopolitical shifts induced by the global energy transition?. In other words, what is being written and researched (academically) about the chosen topic? What kind of approach is being used to

• Research paper due Wednesday 3 May 5pm (CET) 50% of mark

Instructions:

Research paper (different topic from the literature review) of 6,000 words (+/- 10%) including citations. The paper must have a clear research question, which it should answer through a combination of analyzing the existing literature on the topic in order to determine what lens/framework/concepts are most useful for analyzing the question, and an application of the lens/framework/concepts to analyze of some form of empirical material. Please consult with me if you choose this option in order to discuss the suitability of your proposed research question. This must be ‘approved’ prior to 17 April at 9am (in other words, you must make the decision to write a research paper prior to the release of the take-home exam – you may not change your mind and choose the paper option once the exam has been released). Once you have finished reading this sentence, please click on the following link, and then, send me an email1 with the ‘key message’ of the video and the name of the person who delivered the ‘message’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL_fP5axQV4

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online learning activities: 1/2 hours a week / 6 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 72 hours a semester / approx. 20 hours for the review essay, 52 hours for the research paper of take home exam)