| Abstract [eng] |
This MA paper focuses on the Baltic States energy security and the reasons why there is the lack of cooperation in it. Therefore, it aims at analyzing the Baltic States energy security issues in complex to capture the motives for cooperation or competition between the states. Such an approach is suggested by B. Buzan Regional Security Theory and its latest development Regional Energy Security Theory, performed by P. Polonkorpi. The qualitative analysis of several case studies (Lithuanian LNG terminal and NordBalt), testing what does the choice for cooperation or competition depend on, is conducted by using the processtracing method, where the ability to implement energy infrastructure projects serves as an independent variable and cooperation or competition serve as a dependent variable. It is assumed that if a state has ability to increase its energy security by implementing national energy infrastructure projects, it chooses not to cooperate, if it doesn't have ability to implement infrastructure projects alone, it chooses to cooperate. Hence, the paper extensively analyzes the existing public documents on the issues analyzed and includes comments provided by ten interviewees (politicians, infrastructure managers, regulators and tradesmen). The results show that besides the ability to increase energy security by implementing national energy infrastructure projects the choice for cooperation depends on energy sector and the approach taken by a state (either strategic or market). Moreover, it is noticed that although implementation of BEMIP energy infrastructure projects reduced a state the possibility to gain advantage over the other state in the energy complex, it increased competition between Lithuania and Estonia both in energy and defense fields. |
