Davos Open Forum 2007 - Managing Access to Oil

Managing Access to Oil: The Risk of the 21st Century
Access to and the increased need for oil and gas are hot topics in international relations, and sources of conflict and war. Whereas importing countries, such as the US and China, aim to ensure long-term access to this non-renewable source of energy, exporting countries, such as Venezuela or Russia, use their privileged access to oil as an instrument to promote their political interests.
1) Will this need lead to further conflicts in view of the military strengths of such importing countries as China and India? Are power and strength moving towards Asia?
2) Considering its wealth in primary energy sources, how will Russia position itself in times of oil and gas shortages?
3) How is the foreign policy of other countries, in Western Europe or the US for example, driven by the need to manage access to oil? What role do international institutions play?
Gerald Doucet, Secretary-General, World Energy Council (WEC), London
Ajay Dua, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India
Jessica Mathews, President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
Samuel Nguiffo, Director, Environment and Development Centre, Cameroon
Alexander G. Rahr, Director Körber-Unit on Russia and the CIS, German Council on Foreign Relations, Germany
Andreas Zumach, International Correspondent, Die Tageszeitung, Switzerland
Moderated by
Roger de Weck, Columnist, Switzerland

Category:

News & Politics

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