نوع مقاله : علمی-پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Countries in West Asia, particularly energy producers, have come to recognize the vulnerabilities of oil-dependent economies and are thus seriously pursuing energy diversification through the development of renewable energy. Initiatives such as Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" and projects like "Masdar" in the UAE exemplify this shift. This article draws on an integrated theoretical framework combining Constructivist Realism and Energy Security Theory to address the central question: How is the development of renewable energy redefining concepts of national security, transforming the balance of power, and altering patterns of agency in the West Asian international system? The main hypothesis posits that renewable energy development in West Asia, through three mechanisms—reducing economic dependence on oil, fostering technological interdependence, and diversifying sources of power—redefines national security from a fossil fuel control-based model to one rooted in resilience through clean technology; by gradually decentering oil, it shifts the balance of power from traditional exporters to green technology holders; and by expanding transnational cooperation in clean supply chains and investment, it shifts patterns of agency from zero-sum geopolitical competition toward novel energy collaborations. Findings indicate that this transformation, by reducing strategic dependence on oil revenues, has provided regional actors with greater geopolitical maneuverability. For instance, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are pursuing technology-driven diplomacy and competing for leadership in emerging markets such as green hydrogen. At the extra-regional level, this transition has elevated the role of China as a technology supplier, strengthened ties with the European Union as a primary consumer of clean energy, and created both challenges and opportunities for the United States in balancing traditional and new interests. Consequently, the energy transition has emerged as a powerful geopolitical variable that is reshaping the emerging security architecture in West Asia and its interactions with the wider world.
کلیدواژهها English