2.  Russia – a single unitary actor?  Energy superpower?  Hegemonic power?  Utilising energy for political gains?

3. Gas disputes:  Russia-Ukraine  Russia-Belarus

4.  I argue that Russian natural gas policy is a combination of competing ideas/preferences of different groups in the country and in this competition the Russian state (as the main policy maker) is the ‘representative’ of several actors/groups who shape the state behaviour.

5. The President Russian Academy of Sciences Media Public Opinion Energy Institutes Gazprom Independe nt Gas Producers Political/ec onomic elites The Ministry of Energy