Energy Crises in Central Europe 2751-KON-KEES

The aim of the course is to explain how the Central European states responded to energy crises after 1989 and whether they learned from them.

Topics:
1. Theory: energy crisis and state adaptation
2. The legacy of Comecon
3. The 1990–1991 crisis: course and consequences
4. The 1990–1991 crisis: what it changed
5. The European Union as a framework for adaptation
6. The 2006/2009 crisis: course and consequences
7. The 2006/2009 crisis: what it changed
8. Regional cooperation
9. The 2021–2023 crisis: course and consequences
10. The 2021–2023 crisis: what it changed
11. The 2026 crisis: course and consequences
12. The 2026 crisis: which earlier adaptations worked
13. Comparative synthesis

Total student workload

Contact hours with the teacher (35 hours): - participation in classes: 30 hours - consultations: 5 hours Student's individual work (45 hours): - preparation for classes (reading, work with databases, press review): 30 hours - preparation for the final test: 15 hours Total: 80 hours (3 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1: The student knows and understands the basic concepts: energy security, energy crisis, import dependency, state adaptation (Political Science: K_W02; International Relations: K_W01; Internal Security: K_W01). W2: The student knows the course, causes and consequences of energy crises in Central Europe after 1989 and understands the causal links between them (Political Science: K_W05; International Relations: K_W02, K_W03; Internal Security: K_W08). W3: The student knows the role of the European Union and regional cooperation in shaping the energy security of the states of the region (Political Science: K_W04; International Relations: K_W05, K_W07; Internal Security: K_W08).

Learning outcomes - skills

U1: The student searches for, analyses and interprets statistical data and analyses concerning energy, using databases and electronic sources (Political Science: K_U02, K_U03; International Relations: K_U02, K_U09; Internal Security: K_U02, K_U03). U2: The student analyses the causes and consequences of energy crises and compares the responses of Central European states (Political Science: K_U01, K_U08; International Relations: K_U07, K_U08; Internal Security: K_U05, K_U08). U3: The student formulates and justifies their own position orally and in writing, using the terminology of the subject, and cooperates in a group (Political Science: K_U04, K_U07; International Relations: K_U03, K_U04, K_U06; Internal Security: K_U09, K_U10).

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1: The student is ready to independently acquire the information and data needed to understand current energy problems (Political Science: K_K01; International Relations: K_K01; Internal Security: K_K01). K2: The student is ready to critically assess their own knowledge and the reliability of sources (Political Science: K_K02; International Relations: K_K06; Internal Security: K_K02).

Course coordinators

Karolina Gawron-Tabor

Teaching methods

Short introductory lecture, press review, work in pairs or groups on texts, documents and statistical data (written work handed in at the end of the class), presentation of results and discussion.

Expository teaching methods

- participatory lecture
- informative (conventional) lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- classic problem-solving
- case study

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites.

Assessment criteria

Graded credit based on the total number of points (maximum 120):
- in-class work: 65 points (13 classes, 5 points each): verifies U1, U2, U3, K2
- press review: 13 points (13 classes, 1 point each): verifies K1
- final test: 42 points (3 questions from the question pool, 8 points each, and 1 analytical question worth 18 points): verifies W1, W2, W3, U2, U3

Grading scale:
108–120 points: very good (5)
103–107 points: good plus (4+)
96–102 points: good (4)
84–95 points: satisfactory plus (3+)
72–83 points: satisfactory (3)
below 72 points: fail

Absences: two absences are allowed; each further absence requires an excuse. More than four absences result in failing the course. Points from missed classes can be made up during office hours.

Students with an individual study plan: 13 tasks discussed individually during office hours (6 points each, 78 points in total) and the final test (42 points); the grading scale is the same.

Practical placement

Not applicable.

Bibliography

Basic literature:
1. J. Gryz, A. Podraza, M. Ruszel (red.), Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne. Koncepcje, wyzwania, interesy, PWN, Warszawa 2018.
2. K. Pronińska, Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne w stosunkach UE–Rosja. Geopolityka i ekonomia surowców energetycznych, Elipsa, Warszawa 2012.
3. A. Łoskot-Strachota, Polityka energetyczna w czasie wojny i transformacji. Priorytety państw Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej i Niemiec, Raport OSW 3/2025, Warszawa 2025.
4. B. Surmacz, M. Paszkowski (red.), Raport. Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne państw Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej, Instytut Europy Środkowej, Lublin 2023.
5. T. Maltby, M. Mišík, Energy Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe: The Political Economy of Climate and Energy Policy, Cambridge University Press 2024.
6. W. Ostrowski, E. Butler (red.), Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest, Routledge 2018.

Supplementary literature:
1. J. Ćwiek-Karpowicz, Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne Rosji, Oficyna Wydawnicza ASPRA-JR, Warszawa 2018 (rozdział I).
2. A. Cherp, J. Jewell, The concept of energy security: Beyond the four As, „Energy Policy" 2014.
3. P. Högselius, Red Gas: Russia and the Origins of European Energy Dependence, Palgrave Macmillan 2013.
4. S. Pirani, J. Stern, K. Yafimava, The Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute of January 2009: a comprehensive assessment, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies 2009.
5. M. Paszkowski, Trzy lata wojny: rosyjski gaz ziemny w Europie i jego przyszłość, Komentarze IEŚ nr 1312, Lublin 2025.
6. M. Paszkowski, M. Gołębiowska, Konflikt USA–Izrael–Iran a sytuacja energetyczno-gospodarcza państw Europy Środkowej, Komentarze IEŚ nr 1544, Lublin 2026.
7. M. Paszkowski, Węgry i Słowacja w obliczu przerwy w dostawach ropy naftowej rurociągiem Przyjaźń, Komentarze IEŚ nr 1533, Lublin 2026.
8. T. Mramor, A. Roth, S. Tagliapietra, G. Zachmann, Europe must prepare for a possible oil supply crunch, Bruegel 2026.

Online sources: osw.waw.pl, ies.lublin.pl, ec.europa.eu/eurostat, ourworldindata.org/energy, iea.org.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2751-KON-KEES in USOSweb