Energy factor in international politics: Russian case

There have been many reasons to characterize 20th century as oil age. Firstly, the beginning of this centruy brought about many new tehcnologies and inventions lying along from automobile to advanced war industry and oil was the main element of these inovations. On the other hand, widely used energy resource coal was substituted for oil in this period which caused serios repercussions in social, economic and political life. Oil energy has changed the way of life and age of hydrocarbon man emerged in this context.Oil has gradually transformed into a geostrategic commodity, from being only commercial product, after the conversion of British Royal Navy from coal to oil in 1913. This transition resulted in the dependence of England to the foreign oil, which had previously using her own large coal reserves. The most important consequence of this development is that England has placed energy into the very centre of her foreign policy in terms of securing sustainable access to this resource. On the other hand, England?s gradual decline in the energy competition leaded not only to the rise of US and Russia in this sense, but also to the change of international politics.Russia has overcome the economic and political crisis occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union through the enormous revenues of the energy resources. Having put energy to the first place in her foreign policy, Russia has regained her dominant position in the international politics. And now, thanks to her vast energy resources, Russia has launched the grand struggle to exert dominance in Eurasia against US with high self-confidence.Key Words:1. Energy2. Energy Politics3. US4. Russia5. International Politics