The modern economy and modern ways of life are dependent upon oil. The global addiction to oil is fostering our way of life, but also causes conflicts and international crisis. But oil is a finite, non-renewable resource and we may have already, or will soon, pass ‘peak oil’, the maximum point of extraction of oil from the planet. Peak oil therefore heralds a declining supply of this vital resource. Declining oil resources affecting the Bundeswehr today with the pressure of increasing costs for material and domestic training of their soldiers, and for their missions abroad in the framework of the UN and alliances. The vital importance of oil for the German economy is known, which leads to power for lobby groups and to support from the German government. The security politics of oil of the German government to supplier countries leads to dilemmas with their foreign policy values and provokes real political decisions, which are ranging to the society and its awareness of peak oil.
The decline of oil will change the shape of our world. Germany is on the one hand an example of how to handle with this challenge and it is on the other hand an example of how to turn the attention away from this problem. Peak oil opens opportunities which need to be seized. Ignoring it runs the risk of jeopardising Germany’s future development.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- German armed forces and peak oil
- German economy and peak oil
- German politics of oil
- Analysis of interviews
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This dissertation examines the security implications of peak oil for Germany, a nation heavily reliant on imported oil for its economic prosperity and global trade. The study delves into military preparations for scarce oil resources, the impact of peak oil on the German economy, and the significance of oil in German security policies.
- The impact of peak oil on the German military, including resource scarcity and budget constraints.
- The influence of peak oil on the German economy, highlighting the vulnerability of key sectors.
- The role of oil in German security politics and the complex relationship between foreign policy values and oil dependence.
- The importance of strategic planning and adaptation to mitigate the risks posed by peak oil.
- The potential opportunities presented by a transition away from oil dependence and towards a more sustainable future.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the topic, outlining the global dependence on oil and the implications of peak oil. It also emphasizes the importance of analyzing the impact of peak oil on Germany's security.
- German armed forces and peak oil: This chapter explores the impact of declining oil resources on the Bundeswehr, highlighting the challenges posed to material procurement, training, and foreign deployments.
- German economy and peak oil: This chapter analyzes the vital role of oil in the German economy, examining the potential disruptions and vulnerabilities created by declining oil supplies.
- German politics of oil: This chapter investigates the German government's security policies related to oil, focusing on the dilemmas arising from balancing foreign policy values with the need to secure oil supplies.
- Analysis of interviews: This chapter presents insights from interviews conducted with key stakeholders in the German government and industry, providing firsthand perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by peak oil.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Peak oil, security, Germany, Bundeswehr, economy, politics, foreign policy, energy dependence, resource scarcity, strategic planning, sustainability.
- Quote paper
- Peter Finke (Author), 2014, Security implications of Peak Oil on Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/419421
