ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses more complex and nuanced reality and thereby to qualify the dominant geopolitical understanding of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) energy security. It provides two sections that is more detailed and contextualised understanding. The first section provides a differentiated historical context which highlights that European Union (EU)-Russian relations and European energy security concerns have changed significantly over time. The second section brings out further aspects of how IR theoretical frames need to be qualified. The chapter argues that understanding the historical evolution of Russian-European energy relations is critical for understanding how the perceptions of Russia as a geopolitical threat to European energy security is context-specific and changes over time. All of these factors contribute to make Russian exports of gas to European markets particularly politically sensitive. Another important qualification to the dominant geopolitical framing is the need to include not only states but also non-state actors who play a significant role in European energy relations.
