回顧整個美國石油經濟安全的歷史，本文發現從一九七三年以來，經濟安全概念都會因人、事、時、地而有所不同。美國在各個時期的經濟安全考量並沒有存在一個客觀公認的安全門檻或條件，以作為衡量整個安全問題的標準。經濟安全概念只是一種論述式的安全概念，其內涵會隨著時間不斷地改變。這也即是為何在後冷戰時期國家決策者或學界對經濟安全議題看法分歧的原因。

　　　　　In this paper, a thorough study of American oil-security history is presented in order to clarify the ambiguity and diversity of economic security. In general, the content of economic security altered from 1973 to 2000. Agenda setting changed in accordance with changes in security perception as well. In 1973, American energy policy put emphasis on energy independence and self-sufficiency in oil supply. The domestic energy over-consumption gradually caught the public's attention during the late 1970s. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration was caught in a dilemma between the advantages resulting from low oil prices and the disadvantages posed by a surging dependence on imported oil. In 1990, energy security considerations, however, seemed to be merely a by-product of American global strategy in the Persian Gulf War. In 2000, agenda setting on energy policy debate changed again in the presidential election. It is obvious that the economic security concept contained within American oil security since 1973 has varied with time. There is a neither rigid nor standard agenda of economic security. Economic security, which changes along with the domestic and international situation, is a narrative and issue-specific concept.