Many of the richest energy-producing regions of the world are wrought with conflict & billions of the world's poorest suffer the daily insecurity of energy poverty All the while our planet is increasingly under pressure because of our continued dependence on fossil fuels It is easy to see why energy security has become one of the major global challenges of the twenty-first century In this book Roland Dannreuther offers a new & comprehensive approach to understanding energy security Drawing on the latest research he treats energy security as a value that is continually in dynamic conflict with other core values such as economic prosperity & sustainability The different physical properties of the key energy resources coal oil gas nuclear & renewables are of course critical for the differing manifestations of energy insecurity But it is the social economic & political contexts developed over time & place which are essential for a fuller appreciation of contemporary energy challenges In highlighting the history & politics of energy security & the critical role played by power & justice in framing these debates this incisive & cutting-edge analysis is a go-to introduction for students grappling with the complexities of energy security today