Distinguished Visiting Fellow Lecture
Teaching on Europe with Mr Arve
Thorvik: Geopolitics of European Energy Supply
On 25 November 2008 iCES Distinguished Visting Fellow at
the European Business School London, Mr Arve Thorvik delivered an
iCES Lecture on the concept of Geopolitics and the issues
surrounding the relationship between suppliers and customers of gas
and oil energy in Europe.
Introducing the lecture and the centrality of Mr Thorvik's
experience in the context of European policy making on climate
change and energy supply, Professor John Drew, Jean Monnet
Professor of European Business and Management, highlighted the
importance of Mr Thorvik's work for students and the relevance
of iCES talks in offering students the chance to talk to
invited speakers about their direct experience and knowledge of
economic and political matters.
In his Lecture Mr Thorvik examined the nature of European
dependency on gas and oil imports and analysed four issues linked
to the relationship between governments and corporations. Mr
Thorvik initially highlighted the interdependent nature of the
relationship between suppliers and customers in Europe. He moved
onto looking at the political narrative on 'energy weapons' and
their actual power in policy and conflict making. He argued that
"the 'energy weapon' is a deterrent, but not really a usable
weapon" in the European context. His concisely delivered
argument examined the process by which energy supply will
inevitably take prominance over other foreign policy
objectives, the importance of 'safe transit' of gas across Europe
being as important as 'acces to resources'.
Mr Thorvik's background as a
leading practitioner in dealing with energy matters in
Europe gave the Lecture a very well contextualised and
example-based approach to the analysis of oil and gas
as 'global commodities'. It also provided the audience
with a clear scenario of policy practices and their impact on
the levels of European dependence on gas and oil resources. In his
concluding remarks, Mr Thorvik produced insightful comments on the
nature of the relationship betwen governments and corporations. He
emphasized the manner in which relations between the EU, Russia,
Asia and Iran are structurally dependant on the transit of energy
supply and how low oil prices will affect investment projects that
in turn will impact on future European policy making and
relationships between Europe and non-European suppliers.
The Lecture was attended by an interested group of staff and
students and was followed by a Q&A
session. Following the lecture students and staff had an
opportunity to speak informally to Mr Arve Thorvik.
At the end of the event Professor Michael Scriven, Director of
iCES, presented Mr Thorvik with the Distinguished
Visiting Fellow certificate Award which recognises outstanding
achievements in the sphers of business and industry. iCES [within
EBS London] was proud to confer the award on Mr Arve Thorvik
honouring his contribution to his field over many
years.
Monday 25th of November 2008
Institute of Contemporary European Studies (iCES)
European Business School London
Page last updated 11/10/2009
