Geopolitics of Pipelines

The recent fierce gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has confirmed once again that energy plays a significant role among various determinants of inter-state relations in the post-Soviet area, having become a source of many heated controversies. The nature and evolution of energy cooperation mirrors more general trends characteristic of mutual relations between Russia and Ukraine, Russia and Belarus and Russia and the South Caucasus and Central Asia republics. While a full explanation of processes occurring in Russia's energy relations with its immediate neighbors seems unfeasible, these being murky and lacking transparency, it is still worthwhile to subject them to closer scrutiny, which is the objective of this collection. The authors analyze the intricate network of interdependencies, motivations and interests as they review Russia's energy policy towards Belarus, Ukraine and the Caspian Sea Basin states and the evolution of bilateral energy relations, on the assumption that it could be relevant to political and economic developments in the post-Soviet area.