Energy resource rich countries,
especially those who have just discovered it, do have a profound effect on the
regional securitization relationships. This jumps to say that energy can
act as a catalyst variable in the securitization relations between states in
the region, especially as we are witnessing the horrible things ongoing instability
in the Middle East.
The connection between
energy with other issues such as politics and economic and came up with
considerably accepting ideas. They say when politics and military are not
tightly confronted between two states, energy is not that big obstacles. They
can make use of it and that economic benefits from regional energy agreements
are highlighted and collaboration become more possible. However, things may go
wrong badly when the relationship between two countries is hampered by
contentious issues such as races, discrimination, identity and national
interests etc. And this model happens in many places, for example, in case of
Oil discovery in Cyprus where Turkey was not happy when Cypriot government
agreed to allow Israeli company to take charge and that energy issue curtains
better relationship between Turkey and Cyprus and probably with Israel, too.
Personally, we can see that the case
is right to some points. But first I have to say that it is pretty unconvincing
to proof something we do not know precisely. In case of energy security, for
example, there is no accepted definition of it and if energy is included in
this sector or not. Also, energy issues happen with more geographical related.
America, Norway, and Canada, for instance, are energy resource rich as well,
why there is no conflict or resource curse, as some scholar says at all. Of
course, instability in the Middle East and North Africa is somehow revolves
around energy contesting and that it has suddenly cut the ability of states,
especially energy hunger countries, to maintain an uninterrupted supply of
energy which relatively instabilizes prices. We still have to say that energy is
a subset issue of security. As mentioned also in the text, where political and
military density is heightened energy issue is left behind and is secondary or
unimportant matter. On the other hand, where peaceful and smooth relationship
between two or more countries in the region is established project of oil
discovery and other plans make its way out. This instance may tell us that energy
plays an important role but not totally.
The ongoing of conflicts in the Middle
East till date, to a lesser extent, is by resource curse. It rather exists and
continues to exist due to other intractable problems such as identity, belief
and nationalism etc. Hence, whatever attempt trying to connect energy issue with
instability in the Middle East region may be a misleading or creating a bigger
gap of understanding the reality. Arab Spring was an issue of changing the
regime from authoritarian to free system, such as democracy. It has little
thing to do with energy. Also, crisis in Middle East did not just happen
between when the discovery of energy resource. The long fighting between Shia
and Sunni Muslim, for example, were fighting with each other for long time
after the death of Mohamed. Even today, they still are not friend. They are
completely divided and that causes of any insecurity and violent conflicts
rather a faith related issues. This long fighting has weakened states not to
grow up and conditioned itself with only fighting that is why we can see those
Arab countries, which consist of oil, are in conflict trap that this oil-rich
resource even pushed the bad situation to worse.
In short, there
is connection between energy, economic and politics. We also believe that energy
resource could invite more serious attention and a shift of policy of states
and the neighboring countries, especially during this time where some scientist
predict that no more oil reserve in the coming decades. However, what we do not
satisfy with the idea is that we don’t see any clear cut answer to the
question ‘if energy is a primary security concern.’ There should be more bigger
proportional of answer favoring one side or another but the paper is on the
fence.
