Russland als globaler Wirtschaftsakteur

Oil, gas, and coal from Russia are indispensable elements of Europe’s energy supply today. At the same time, the expansive activities of Russian oil and gas companies are controversial. Some observers regard the latter as commercial actors pursuing mainly economic interests. Others suspect that they are trying to attain economic control and integration as a way of pursuing foreign-policy goals. The lack of consensus is due not least to a terminology that makes it difficult to establish a dialog between both views. This study develops a methodology for analyzing both the economic and the foreign-policy functions of the companies in question. Their motivations and instruments are analyzed empirically by looking at 40 projects in nine countries. The book shows how power structures, the ability to reform, and the investor behavior of companies are connected.