Geopolitics of Energy

Michael T. Klare's article, 'The New Geopolitics of Energy', really caught my attention. Not only did he predict the Georgian/Russian conflict that took place back in August, but he also sheds some light on the upcoming election. He describes foreign policy changing from a look at ideology (Cold War politics) to one that is now determined by raw materials, many which are being taken from unstable countries.

It is no coincidence that our main competitors in this new military plan involve Russia and China, our two biggest rivals for access and transportation of oil. I believe it was in the Sanders article from Monday that he discussed the U.S. controls the world and its oceans exponentially larger than Great Britain ever did in the 19th Century. Klare adds to this assesment by emphasizing the importance that 90% of world trade and 2/3 of the petroleum is transported by sea. So far this semester it has seemed that the Navy has been left out of discussion when speaking on behalf of specific branches of the military. However, now it is clear to me that the Navy has been one of the most active branches even though fighting has taken place in landlocked countries. This helps stregthen the argument of the MIC, and how we are subsequently using our Navy to protect our world-trade interests. We clearly have the seas dominated, and in places like Georgia it is evident that we have began to butt heads with the Russians over an oil pipeline that runs through a country in which we have both provided military assistance and aid. The question for the future is what will happen in 3rd world African countries when oil supplies begin to deminish? How far will we go to compete against China in order to win over the leaders of unstable African nations that are trying to maintain power?