Jeronim Perović’s Fuel and Power offers a comprehensive analysis of Russia’s energy history, tracing its pivotal role in shaping the nation’s geopolitical and economic strategies from the Bolshevik era to the present day. This updated version of his German-language book, Rohstoffmacht Russland: Eine globale Energiegeschichte, expands its scope with the addition of a new chapter, “Energy, Geopolitics, and War,” which examines Russia’s use of energy as a political tool in the lead up to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Through its detailed chronological coverage and thematic depth, the book shows how Russia has leveraged its energy resources to assert influence, navigate international trade dynamics, and manage internal political and economic challenges. At a time when energy security and geopolitical tensions are at the forefront of global concerns, this book is both timely and indispensable.
Fuel and Power is organized into six chapters, each addressing a specific period or theme in Russia’s energy history. The opening chapter, “Russia in the Global History of Oil,” sets the stage for the rest of the book. It provides an overview of Russia’s role in the global history of oil, situating its energy sector within the broader narrative of global transformations and highlighting the country’s unique trajectory as a resource-rich nation. Perović frames the history of oil around three central themes: its role in driving the spread of capitalism and the rise of multinational corporations; its geopolitical and strategic significance as a resource of power and conflict; and its societal impact, exemplified by the emergence of what Daniel Yergin (The prize: The epic quest for oil, money & power. Simon and Schuster: 2011) called the “hydrocarbon man.”
Chapter 2, “The Bolsheviks and Oil,” focuses on the early Soviet period, examining how the Bolsheviks utilized oil to modernize their economy and establish diplomatic connections. Perović emphasizes the pragmatic compromises made by the Soviet leadership, such as granting concessions to Western oil companies, to rebuild the economy devastated by war and revolution.
Chapters 3 and 4 explore the Soviet Union’s Cold War energy strategy and its vulnerabilities. Chapter 3, “Energy in the Cold War,” begins after WWII and details how the USSR used energy exports to strengthen its geopolitical influence. Long-term energy trade agreements with Western Europe created economic interdependence that served as a stabilizing factor during the Cold War. Chapter 4, “Path to Dependence,” transitions to the Brezhnev era, examining how the USSR’s reliance on energy exports evolved into a significant economic vulnerability. While high oil prices in the 1970s provided a lifeline to the stagnating Soviet economy, the structural inefficiencies of the state-led system persisted. Declining oil prices in the 1980s exposed these weaknesses, limiting the country’s ability to respond to external shocks and contributing to its eventual collapse. Together, these chapters highlight the dual role of energy as both a tool for Soviet power abroad and a factor in its domestic economic fragility.
Chapter 5, “Crisis, Collapse, and Resurgence,” shifts the focus to the late Soviet and early post-Soviet periods. This chapter explores the economic and political challenges of the 1980s and 1990s, including the collapse of global oil prices, the privatization of Russia’s energy sector, and the rise of oligarchic control. Perović captures the instability of this period, emphasizing how energy remained central to Russia’s economy despite the internal challenges of transitioning to a market system.
The newly added Chapter 6, “Energy, Geopolitics, and War,” brings the narrative into the 21st century, focusing on Russia’s strategic use of energy as a geopolitical weapon. Perović explores key moments such as energy disputes with Ukraine and Europe’s increasing dependence on Russian gas, culminating in the geopolitical tensions leading up to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This chapter emphasizes how energy diplomacy continues to shape Russia’s global strategy while highlighting the vulnerabilities of resource dependency.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to connect historical and contemporary issues, making it highly relevant for understanding modern energy geopolitics. Perović's use of primary and secondary sources is thorough, and his thematic and chronological organization of the material provides a cohesive framework for examining energy’s role in Russia’s history.
However, a significant limitation emerges in its uneven focus on the relationship between energy and foreign relations. The book ambitiously announces its intent to analyze Russia’s energy industry through the prisms of trade, diplomacy, and geopolitics. This dimension is skillfully addressed during the Cold War period, where Perović meticulously details the diplomatic strategies surrounding Soviet energy exports and the establishment of East–West interdependence. However, starting from the late 1980s, the narrative shifts almost entirely inward. Key developments, such as the strategic partnerships with European energy companies, Russia’s increasing leverage over former Soviet states, and the broader implications for global energy politics, are either overlooked or insufficiently analyzed. This imbalance leaves readers without a clear understanding of how the foreign relations aspect of Russia’s energy strategy transitioned—or failed to transition—into the post-Cold War era.
Overall, Fuel and Power is an engaging and insightful study of Russia’s energy history, offering a detailed account of how energy resources have shaped the nation’s economy, politics, and foreign relations. While its analysis of post-Cold War energy diplomacy could be more robust, the book succeeds in providing a comprehensive framework for understanding Russia’s energy strategies across different eras. Scholars, policymakers, and students of energy history will find this work an indispensable addition to the literature on energy geopolitics and Russian history.
