Energy Security in European Conditions

Bc. Jana Kovačovská

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Práca sa zaoberá konceptom energetickej bezpečnosti v európskych podmienkach. Kladie si za cieľ zistiť, ako tento koncept vnímajú aktéri, ktorí pôsobia v oblasti energetickej bezpečnosti v Európskej únii. Používa sekundárnu analýzu a následne metódu zakotvenej teórie, ktorou analyzuje 23 pološtruktúrovaných rozhovorov prevažne s energy attachés členských štátov EÚ. V závere práce prezentuje výstupy zakotvenej teórie, ukazuje, aké aspekty energetickej bezpečnosti daní aktéri akcentujú, aké kauzálne vzťahy v rámci tohto konceptu identifikujú a aké otázky spojené s energetickou bezpečnosťou prioritizujú.

Abstract:

This thesis deals with the concept of energy security in the European conditions. It aims to find out how is this concept perceived by actors dealing with the energy security matters in the European Unions. It uses secondary analysis and subsequently the method of grounded theory. 23 interviews with mostly energy attachés of the EU member states are analyzed using this method. At the end, the outcomes and findings of the grounded theory research are presented. The thesis then comments on which aspects of the energy security are accentuated most by these actors, which causal relationships within the concepts they identify and which questions related to the energy security they prioritize.

Keywords

energetická bezpečnosť, zakotvená teória, Európska únia, expertné rozhovory, energy security, grounded theory, European Union, expert interviews

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 29. 4. 2010

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 1. 6. 2010
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Filip Černoch, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / International Relations