Green Energy Policies in Romania – Ecological Education (Chapter 8)

Energy is not merely a resource; it is a foundational axis upon which the architecture of the global political economy rests. It underpins state power, influences military strategy, drives technological innovation, and shapes the contours of development and inequality. As climate change intensifies, strategic rivalries deepen, and the energy transition accelerates, the governance of energy becomes inseparable from the quest for security, justice, and sustainability. This edited volume, Energy and Power in International Political Economy, brings together leading scholars to examine energy as a multidimensional and contested field—located at the intersection of geopolitics, ethics, economic transformation, and global governance. Throughout history, the control and securitization of energy resources have played a decisive role in shaping military doctrines, defense expenditures, and international alignments. At the same time, the global shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources has introduced new sources of competition—over critical minerals, technological leadership, and green market dominance. Energy has thus evolved from a purely technical domain into a strategic terrain of struggle, adaptation, and opportunity. This book opens with Chapter