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Russia’s Energy Diplomacy / John Lough. London : Chatham House, May 2011, 16 p. (a briefing paper)http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/download/-/id/1064/file/19352_0511bp_lough.pdfPresentation (source and copyright © Chatham House http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/1064/) :Russia's large energy resources are a mainstay of its foreign policy  and an essential source of its current political power projection and  international prestige. These reserves can act as a source of economic  attraction for neighbours and partners. They are a significant factor in  bilateral relations with neighbours that can be traded for political  and economic benefit.Russia also uses its energy relations as a means of achieving  economic and political influence through non-traditional and  non-transparent mechanisms. At times, Russia employs energy in coercive  ways and to build patterns of dependence.While Russsia's energy exports give it international clout, the  current development and export model has created a dynamic that has  undermined trust and at times created counterproductive outcomes with  both CIS and EU countries.The changing external environment and pressures to develop new  Russian sources of oil and gas production may force changes. Russia may  be pushed to run its energy sector more efficiently with greater foreign  investment, closer relations with foreign partners and increased mutual  market access. If this happens, Russia might develop a qualitatively  different energy-based influence across a much wider area.