Publication

This paper discusses the problematic relationship between rising energy prices and democracy. The author first re-examines the conventional wisdom that rising oil and gas prices have helped shore up autocratic producer states across the world and that rising energy prices have led western states to dilute their support for democratic reforms in these countries. The paper shows, however, that the truth is more complex and that the opaque management of increased oil and gas revenues has sparked pressure for governance reforms from within producer states. According to the author, this has also encouraged new international initiatives linking energy security with good governance.