LFU:online

Students deal with new themes in selected key areas. They understand and evaluate them as well as argument with regards to scientific dynamics and trends of the respective key areas. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different methodological approaches. They gain competences in independent formulating of questions and argumentations.

Austria was disproportionately dependent on Russian natural gas at the beginning of the Ukraine war. In the seminar, we will explore the historical reasons for this dependence by reading the book “Red Gas. Russia and the Origins of European Energy Dependence”, published by the Swedish historian Per Högselius. The book is one of the most significant works of European energy and infrastructure history and tells the story of an intensified dependence of Western European national economies (mainly Austria, Germany, and Italy) on Soviet and later Russian natural gas supplies over the decades. In addition, the book discusses alternative options from Algeria and Iran and the reasons why these imports did not materialize. Additional literature provided and individually researched texts will help to contextualize each chapter.

Topic-centered teaching with introductory lectures by the lecturer, joint discussion of (German and English) texts, presentations, group work and practical exercises; instruction in independent writing of a SE paper in the thematic area of the course; literature and Internet research.

Active participation in discussions, small oral and/or written contributions (papers with handouts, reviews, statements); SE paper of 10-15 pages.

-          Per Högselius, Red gas: Russia and the origins of European energy dependence. Springer, 2012.

-          Additional literature will be provided at the beginning of the course.

robert.gross@boku.ac.at