Contemporary legal practice has developed powerful contractual mechanisms to mitigate the political risks attendant on energy projects. However, until now most of what we know about the contractual management of these risks has been based on theoretical literature and the facts of cases rather than careful empirical study. This one-of-a-kind book breaks new ground. The author presents the results of a questionnaire-based survey circulated to the main players in the petroleum sector, revealing actual existing contractual risk management techniques and showing a true picture of the political risk situation in the petroleum sector. Going far beyond an analysis of the literature, the research includes in-depth interviews with specialist lawyers and representatives of companies who have not only a theoretical knowledge but practical experience with the problems of host government interventions, as well as with international petroleum negotiators, members of international organizations in the petroleum business, and dispute settlement bodies.