Energy Diplomacy in Federal Systems: A Comparative Study of Russia, Canada, and Germany

Abstract

Comparing Russia, Canada, and Germany as federal systems, this article shows how energy diplomacy is informed by federalism. Based on multi-level governance theory, it examines how institutional structures can affect the external energy policy between 2020 and 2025. The paper follows a qualitative comparative approach which relies on official reports, scholarly literature and policy papers. Results indicate that Russian centralized federalism facilitates consistent but forceful energy diplomacy, asymmetrical Canadian federalism creates innovation but fragmentation of policy, and German cooperative federalism allows genuine legitimacy, but responsiveness is impeded. The study shows that federal design is a critical determinant of the impact and the flexibility of energy diplomacy.