International energy security definitions and dimensions

Abstract

Energy security has an urgent priority as it can shape countries’ policies and behavior. Consequently, the common understanding, concept and definition of energy security is very important in order to facilitate cooperation between states in this area. Increasing energy prices, the growing dependence of industrialized economies on energy, climate change, energy demand and competition, globalization, political and military conflicts and other factors contribute to the fact that energy security is becoming a national security issue for countries. That is why not only researches, but states and their governments are interested in defining a clear concept of energy security as it has a practical goal. However, there is no clear common understanding neither of the term “energy security” (ES), nor of what methodologies should be used to conceptualize or generalize it.