Russia's Energy Policy and Northeast Asia Energy Cooperation: A RPG Perspective

This paper applies the concept of externalities from the theory of RPGs to investigate how Russia and other Northeast Asia (NEA) powers advance cooperation in energy security, and centers the analysis of the powers' means and the incentive in providing a RPG in the region. The first section sets out a brief introduction into the complex Russia's involvement in NEA's security, followed in section two by a conceptual framework for thinking through a RPG and drawing some tentative policy implications for Russia and other major players in a potential RPG. Section three analyzes the interdependence of Russia and other NEA powers on energy security. Section four discusses the dynamics of Russian policy-making on regional energy cooperation and recommends policies that will allow effective Russia's energy coordination in NEA. Section five concludes by suggesting that the effects of Russian contribution towards the RPG for energy security mainly in ways of rationalizing international relations in NEA, as most countries in the region will ensure a sustainable domestic energy supply.