The principal geopolitical issue of the day—energy security—permeates almost everything about global crude oil markets. Despite concerns over reliance on carbon-based energy forms and the impacts of their use on the environment, world-wide demand continues to increase. There are broad global, regional, and national political issues for developed, developing and under-developed nations, as well as for producer and supplier countries. How will tight supply, improved demand-side management, and environmental concerns affect the market balance over the next decade?