26
enjoyed an advantage—most notably in Saudi Arabia. When access to the Gulf has
ever been threatened or endangered, whether by the Soviets, the Iranians, or the
Iraqis, the US has always been prepared to employ force to ensure the security of its
supply. But while the Gulf has always constituted the main focal point of US foreign
and energy policy, the US has also sought to diversify its foreign sources of crude to
reduce the risks of over-reliance on any one major source. Under this policy of
diversification was advanced by President Clinton and involved increasing US supply routes from oil sourced around the Caspian Sea area. Nowadays, US reliance on
imported oil has diminished as a result of growing production from domestic shale
reserves. However, stability in oil markets essentially equates to global economic
stability at large and is thus vital to US economic stability. Despite greater domestic
production capacities, the US continues to protect the global flow of oil—not so
much to protect US import needs, but more to ensure that the global oil market
remains adequately supplied (www.irdiplomacy.ir 2018).
Central Asian Republics and Caspian Sea countries are in the process of strengthening their independence against Russia, while the United States is trying to eliminate Russia’s natural gas and oil monopoly and prevent Russian pipeline plans that
will pass through Iran to the south. In order to realize both goals, the US has supported the energy company Unocal in building a pipeline from Turkmenistan to
Afghanistan. In order to be able to realize this line, it was necessary to establish an
order in Afghanistan, with the Taliban originally contacted to regulate it. There are
only a small number of studies which refer to how the shale gas revolution has
affected US foreign policy. In particular, none of these deal with how the shale gas
revolution has impacted US foreign policy toward Central Asia and the Caspian Sea
region. It can be said that this is the first academic study in which US energy diplomacy toward the Caspian Sea region has been analyzed. The majority of previous
studies have concentrated mainly on major power’s policies toward Central Asia
rather than the Caspian Sea region. Others have focused on the new Great Game in
the region. With regard to US foreign policy in Central Asia, there some studies
about US general policy toward the region, but these rather take account of differences between one administration and another. Another example of the interaction
between energy and politics on the world stage is the growth and development
of China.
The United States views China as the most important challenge of its foreign
policy until the 2050s and is trying to control China through its energy supply control system and its economic growth—and recently, environmental diplomacy. On
the other hand, China is showing signs of self-sufficiency and expansion where
there exist vacuums and opportunities, such as in its investments in the African oil
and gas industry. China seeks to diversify its energy sources and seeks alternatives
to supply its energy (www.irdiplomacy.ir 2018). The issue of hydrocarbon reserves
in landlocked countries such as those in Central Asia is another geopolitical phenomenon that illustrates the interaction between energy and politics on the global
stage. Several issues have been raised as to how these countries bring their energy
resources to world markets and the routes that were used to transport gas from
Turkmenistan and other countries. It is seen that this issue has also been the driving
2 Literature Review
enjoyed an advantage—most notably in Saudi Arabia. When access to the Gulf has
ever been threatened or endangered, whether by the Soviets, the Iranians, or the
Iraqis, the US has always been prepared to employ force to ensure the security of its
supply. But while the Gulf has always constituted the main focal point of US foreign
and energy policy, the US has also sought to diversify its foreign sources of crude to
reduce the risks of over-reliance on any one major source. Under this policy of
diversification was advanced by President Clinton and involved increasing US supply routes from oil sourced around the Caspian Sea area. Nowadays, US reliance on
imported oil has diminished as a result of growing production from domestic shale
reserves. However, stability in oil markets essentially equates to global economic
stability at large and is thus vital to US economic stability. Despite greater domestic
production capacities, the US continues to protect the global flow of oil—not so
much to protect US import needs, but more to ensure that the global oil market
remains adequately supplied (www.irdiplomacy.ir 2018).
Central Asian Republics and Caspian Sea countries are in the process of strengthening their independence against Russia, while the United States is trying to eliminate Russia’s natural gas and oil monopoly and prevent Russian pipeline plans that
will pass through Iran to the south. In order to realize both goals, the US has supported the energy company Unocal in building a pipeline from Turkmenistan to
Afghanistan. In order to be able to realize this line, it was necessary to establish an
order in Afghanistan, with the Taliban originally contacted to regulate it. There are
only a small number of studies which refer to how the shale gas revolution has
affected US foreign policy. In particular, none of these deal with how the shale gas
revolution has impacted US foreign policy toward Central Asia and the Caspian Sea
region. It can be said that this is the first academic study in which US energy diplomacy toward the Caspian Sea region has been analyzed. The majority of previous
studies have concentrated mainly on major power’s policies toward Central Asia
rather than the Caspian Sea region. Others have focused on the new Great Game in
the region. With regard to US foreign policy in Central Asia, there some studies
about US general policy toward the region, but these rather take account of differences between one administration and another. Another example of the interaction
between energy and politics on the world stage is the growth and development
of China.
The United States views China as the most important challenge of its foreign
policy until the 2050s and is trying to control China through its energy supply control system and its economic growth—and recently, environmental diplomacy. On
the other hand, China is showing signs of self-sufficiency and expansion where
there exist vacuums and opportunities, such as in its investments in the African oil
and gas industry. China seeks to diversify its energy sources and seeks alternatives
to supply its energy (www.irdiplomacy.ir 2018). The issue of hydrocarbon reserves
in landlocked countries such as those in Central Asia is another geopolitical phenomenon that illustrates the interaction between energy and politics on the global
stage. Several issues have been raised as to how these countries bring their energy
resources to world markets and the routes that were used to transport gas from
Turkmenistan and other countries. It is seen that this issue has also been the driving
2 Literature Review