The South Steam versus Nabucco Pipeline Race: Geopolitical and Economic (ir)Rationales and Political Stakes in Mega-Projects

The plan for the southern energy corridor delivering a new secure supply of natural gas to the European Union is shaped by projects for two pipelines-Nabucco and the South Stream. Economic rationales for both projects are far from solid, nevertheless much political effort has been expended on advancing these competing 'mega-projects', which have acquired symbolic status in different approaches to securitization of energy matters.

The article assesses the probability of both projects, informed by analysis of the motivations of key actors and an evaluation of the stakes which they have placed on the implementation of their plans. It examines the phenomenon of politicized 'mega-projects', on the basis that this perspective might shed some new light on the prospects for further gratuitous competition between Nabucco and South Stream.

ESO: Background information: Europe's southern gas corridor: The great pipeline race http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-southern-gas-corridor-the-great-pipeline-race/

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