Book Review: Bruce Jones and David Steven, The Risk Pivot: Great Powers, International Security, and the Energy Revolution
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929916667019 |
| Author | Monir Hossain Moni |
| Date | 01 February 2017 |
| Published date | 01 February 2017 |
| Subject Matter | Book ReviewsInternational Relations |
105
determine why, how and when states respond to
many messages, the link between the interna-
the issue of human security, whether at home or
tional energy market and traditional strategic
abroad (Hillebrecht and MacMahon, p. 15).
security is poorly perceived in the volume.
The state’s response in terms of domestic
The book uses ‘Asia’ as a too generalised
human security is well explained by the contrib-
term, when taking only two Asian emerging
utors in the cases of China, post-Soviet Central
giants into consideration, and mystifyingly, the
Asia, Mexico and Egypt (chapters 2–5). writers show their complete dullness in regard
Meanwhile, human security issues could also be
to Japan, a resource-poor nation that is depend-
a transnational problem that requires state
ent on imports for 96% of its primary energy
involvement abroad by establishing mutual
supply. They view the United States as a country
cooperation and international norms, as dis-
that still has the greatest capacity for shaping a
cussed in chapters 6 and 8. Furthermore, Forsithe
stable global order in order to mitigate the risks
argues in chapter 7 that the intentions of the state
originating mainly from rapid energy move-
to promote its citizens’ human security might
ment into oil-thirsty China and India, but this
also abuse the human security of others.
work lacks any satisfactory analysis as to why
In their desire to emphasise freedom from
and how American oil diplomacy experienced
fear, the authors unfortunately pay scant
a shameful debacle in the Persian Gulf. As the
attention to the root cause of human insecu-
authors also discuss, some American politi-
rity. The book even assumes that unrest is
cians are attracted by the sense that the US can
rooted solely in sophisticated economic needs
now ‘play dirty’, that is, use its energy boom as
such as work-related issues (Wedeman, p. 33)
a strategic weapon to weaken China, marginal-
and quality of...
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