The Globalization of Energy: China and the European Union (International Comparative Social Studies, 21),Used

Review "Thoughtprovoking as [the book] is, the chapters invite readers to further explore the issues and stakes that comprise the contemporary scene of international energy diplomacy, not only between China and the European Union, but on a truly global scale." Yifei Li, in: The Newsletter 60 (Summer 2012), pp. 3233 Product Description Energy security challenges are topping the policy agenda of the European Union and China. Consequently, policy makers of both energy importdependent polities continue to look for new responses. But will these new policies put EUChina relations in a coop From the Back Cover Since the conclusion of the 1985 trade and cooperation agreement between the European Community and China, a new political dynamic has been set in motion between two emerging entities: industrializing China and integrating Europe. It is reflected in, among others, European Commission policy strategy papers and, probably more importantly, in numerous sectoral dialogues and agreements. Europe has become China s largest export destination. For the E.U., China has become its second largest trading partner and its most important source of imports. The book edited by Mehdi Parvizi Amineh and Yang Guang studies the fueling of this Eurasian production and trading system. This is the policy area of energy supplies and energy security. Cooperation on the basis of complementarity is rather easy. Cooperation in the competition for access to, and share in, nonrenewable stocks of oil and gas is more challenging. This book studies a series of bilateral energy relations (Part One) in a globallevel, geopolitical framework. Policy outcomes in bilateral relations are impacted by multilateral networks. Part Two surveys the quest for renewable energy, which is the core of supply security. China has created the largest solar panel production facility. It is capable of producing lightweight magnets used in, among others, windpower generators and hybrid car engines. This year China is expected to overtake the U.S. as the largest producer of wind turbines. China s stepbystep reduction of the gap in wealth and power with countries that overran it in the past has so far been remarkably peaceful. We know in both Europe and China all too well that trenddriven change in capability ratios between great powers does not by necessity harmonize well with leadership responses to it. By charting the domain of the energy competition, this book marks an important contribution to the rationalization of energy policy as an area of competitive cooperation. Henk Houweling, Instructor at the "Europe Institute of the University of Macao" About the Author M. Parvizi Amineh Ph.D. (Political Sciences, University of Amsterdam), is Director of the Energy Programme Asia (EPA) at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Leiden. He is also Adjunct Professor of International Relations at Webster University, Leiden, and member of the Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam. He is the author and editor of 11 books including topics on Energy, International relations, Asian and Middle East Politics. Yang Guang is DirectorGeneral of the Institute of WestAsian and African Studies (IWAAS) of CASS, Beijing, China, President of the Chinese Associations of Middle East Studies, Executive President of the Chinese Society of African Studies, and editorinchief of the academic journal West Asia and Africa. He has conducted research on the Middle East and Africa as well as on international energy security over the past 30 years.