GEOGRAPHY OF “GAS PIPELINE CONFRONTATION” ON THE POST-SOVIET TERRITORY

Abstract

Purpose. We identify the territorial features of the manifestation of competition regarding the issue of gas transportation among the countries in the post-Soviet space. Methodology and Approach. The study has been conducted on the basis of a database compiled by the author with allowance for all information provided by the leading operators of the main pipelines transporting gas through the territory of each state of the region in question. In addition, the results of the investigations carried out by industry analytical organizations have been properly considered. The conducted survey involves the geopolitical analysis and the comparative geographical method. Results. We have identified the countries that use gas pipelines as an instrument of their foreign policy as well as the geographical factors underlying this process; a connection has been established between the geographical orientation of gas pipelines and the geopolitical interests of the states involved in their functioning. The most important and problematic gas pipelines have been revealed in the context of Russia’s relations with the countries of this region; countries whose interests overlap with each other and, ultimately, with the interests of Russia in matters of gas transportation have been identified. Theoretical and Practical implications. A generalization of analytical materials on the activities of all export gas pipelines in the post-Soviet space allows one to predict the direction of transformation of the territorial organization transporting gas based on the relations between the countries of the region.

Keywords

• geopolitics
• geography
• post-Soviet countries
• gas pipelines
• Russia
• Ukraine