American and Chinese Energy Security: A Grand Strategic Approach

(Hardback)

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This book explores the complex relationship between grand strategy and energy security by conducting a focused, comparative study on the United States and China. By including energy security as a component of grand strategy, the author is able to present an analysis of the complex, multifaceted approaches large consuming states take to secure their critical energy supplies. Inclusion of energy as part of the core strategic agenda increases explanatory power and provides insights as to how states may elect to pursue supply security under times of greater scarcity, or increased conflict. A ranking system is also developed, allowing a more systematic approach to inform this qualitative study.

Reviews

Opsal emphasizes the importance of energy security in the grand strategy of great powers. Framed within grand strategy theory, the author focuses exclusively on oil and lucidly analyzes how divergent state structures, societies, market practices, and competing geostrategic objectives lead China and the U.S to secure supply via radically different state and market policies: China relies on a centralized, state-driven, neo-mercantilist approach; and the U.S.A. depends on a decentralized, market-driven, neoliberal method. These competing practices and geostrategic objectives from radically different societies may prove difficult to coexist peacefully. This is a superbly argued and written book that merits serious reflection. -- Flix E. Martn, associate professor of politics and international relations, Florida International University
American and Chinese Energy Security is an astutely analyzed and historically insightful investigation of how questions of energy security have fundamentally informed American and Chinese formulations of grand strategy. Opsal convincingly argues that oil-based security dilemmas will place these two nations on a collision course that will shape global geopolitics for decades to come. -- Tyler Priest, University of Iowa

Author Bio

Ryan Opsal is an energy policy manager for the State of Maryland and adjunct professor in international relations at Florida International University.