CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2013
| Author | Bachuretz, Madeleine |
|---|---|
| Title | Rethinking Energy Security: The Carter Doctrine in a Changing Energy Landscape |
| Summary | This project examines what factors underpin the continuity in US engagement in the Persian Gulf following a significant reduction in its oil imports from the region over the past seven years. This scenario presents a puzzle when considered against the criteria of the Carter Doctrine, the historic driver of US policy in the region, which has linked a direct US military presence in the Gulf to realist concerns over securing access to petroleum supplies as a matter of the US’s “vital national interest.” Seeing as the majority of Gulf petroleum exports now head to East Asian markets such as China, the extent to which traditional realist energy security concerns continue to inform US Gulf policy demands critical inquiry. This study takes into account three factors for explaining continuity in the United States’ Gulf policy with reference to its “special relationship” with Saudi Arabia: counter-terror strategy, regional stability vis-à-vis Iran, and energy security. A close examination reveals that although energy security does remain paramount in driving US policy in the region, traditional realist approaches to energy security as embodied in the Carter Doctrine demand reassessment in light of the changing energy landscape in the Gulf. The crucial nuance lies in expanding the scope of the US’s “vital interests” as now including upholding global energy supply flows for those not considered immediate US allies such as China, indicating the emergence of liberal trends in US energy security policy. In this way, this project seeks to advance the theoretical discussion between grand IR theory and energy security more broadly. |
| Supervisor | Fumagali, Matteo |
| Department | International Relations MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2013/bachuretz_madeleine.pdf |
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