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The Global Expansion of Russia’s Energy Giants / Nina Poussenkova, Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 63, No. 2, Spring/Summer 2010, pp.   103-124http://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/global-expansion-russia%E2%80%99s-energy-giantsThe article analyzes the past, the present and the future of the  global expansion of Russian oil and gas companies. During Socialism,  geopolitical considerations were the main driver of overseas activities  of the Soviet energy enterprises. During the 90s, given the maturing  resource base of the oil sector, the going-abroad efforts of privatized  Russian oil companies, mainly LUKOIL, in the upstream were aimed at  acquiring promising assets in countries with lower production costs.  Oilmen were also trying to get a foothold in the European downstream to  improve their global competitiveness. Gazprom was expanding its presence  in Europe which was essential for the company that suffered from  non-payments in Russia. At the same time, LUKOIL and Gazprom helped  Russia to maintain its influence over the former USSR republics. During  the 2000s, with the growing étatisation of the energy sector in Russia,  economic aspects of oil and gas companies’ global expansion became  interlinked with geopolitical motives and the desire to reestablish the  country as an energy power. (Journal of International Affairs are © The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York)