Brent F. Nelsen and Tina Soliman Hunter illustrate how varying international conditions, interest group pressures and national cultures explain differences in state intervention that resulted in subsequent divergence and also highlight the issue of increased European demand against ongoing supply and delivery constraints. Considering current pledges to reduce carbon emissions, the book also investigates the increased role of the state in both countries to extract as much petroleum as possible whilst boosting offshore clean energy sources.

Academics and students of energy policy and energy law will benefit not only from the historical overview of development but also from the discussions surrounding the evolution of British and Norwegian legal frameworks. Government officials and business professionals will also find the extensive analysis informative, creating a deeper understanding of how Britain and Norway have achieved success in harnessing the resources of foreign private companies.