1. Course Introduction Text

Course Title: Politics and Economics of International Energy

Subtitle: Geopolitics, Markets, and Policy in a Rapidly Changing Energy World

Level: Introductory to Intermediate (Broad professional and academic audience)

Duration: 7–8 modules (self-paced)

Course Description

Energy is not just a technical subject—it is one of the most powerful forces shaping global politics, economic competition, and international relations. Oil price shocks have toppled governments. Natural gas pipelines have redrawn geopolitical alliances. The race for critical minerals is defining new spheres of influence. And the global energy transition is transforming how nations compete for industries, jobs, and strategic advantage.

This course provides a comprehensive, accessible introduction to how politics and economics intersect with energy on the world stage. You will explore the fundamentals of global energy markets—oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables—and understand how supply, demand, and pricing mechanisms work in practice. You will then examine how governments use energy as a tool of foreign policy, how trade agreements and sanctions shape energy flows, and how the transition to clean energy is creating both new opportunities and new geopolitical tensions.

The course draws on current events and real-world case studies, including U.S. energy policy shifts under recent administrations, OPEC+ production strategies, Europe’s energy crisis and response, China’s critical mineral dominance, and the role of hydrogen and CCS in industrial policy. Taught by an instructor who works within the U.S. energy regulatory system and has trained at Sciences Po in the politics and economics of international energy, this course offers a unique blend of technical understanding and geopolitical awareness.

What You Will Learn

• How global energy markets work: oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables supply and demand dynamics
• Energy pricing mechanisms: how oil and gas prices are set, traded, and influenced by geopolitics
• Energy as a geopolitical tool: sanctions, pipeline politics, strategic reserves, and energy diplomacy
• OPEC, OPEC+, and the geopolitics of oil production decisions
• The economics of the energy transition: costs, subsidies, tax credits, carbon pricing, and trade policy
• Energy security: what it means, how nations measure it, and why it drives policy decisions
• The role of critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths) in the new energy geopolitics
• S. energy policy: the Inflation Reduction Act, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and their global implications
• Case studies: Europe’s energy crisis, China’s clean-tech strategy, the U.S. shale revolution, and OPEC+ dynamics

Who This Course Is For

• Professionals in energy, finance, consulting, or government who need to understand the geopolitical context of energy decisions
• Graduate students in international relations, political science, economics, or energy studies
• Business strategists and investors assessing energy market risks and opportunities
• Journalists, analysts, and policy advisors covering energy and climate
• Anyone interested in understanding how energy shapes the world we live in

2. Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction: Why Energy Is the World’s Most Powerful Political Commodity

Module 2: Global Energy Markets: Oil, Gas, Coal, and Nuclear Fundamentals

Module 3: Renewable Energy Economics: Costs, Subsidies, and the Investment Landscape

Module 4: Energy Geopolitics: Pipelines, Sanctions, and Strategic Competition

Module 5: OPEC, OPEC+, and the Politics of Oil Production

Module 6: Energy Security and the Critical Minerals Race

Module 7: U.S. and Global Energy Policy: Legislation, Trade, and the Energy Transition

Module 8: Case Studies: Europe, China, the Middle East, and the Americas