Russian Energy Policy and Structural Power in Europe

This paper discusses and critically evaluates the impact of the Russian gas strategy through the theoretical lenses of power. It delineates the different kinds of power, and discusses within which forms of power the Russian gas strategy falls analytically. In doing so, it moves away from simplistic understandings of hard and soft power in energy politics and focuses on the discussion of structural power, exploring agenda-setting functions, the rules of the game, regulatory issues, economic parameters and the shadow of globalizing markets. We conclude that these factors have suppressed Russian structural power and the impact of Russian energy in Europe.