Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet

Viac o knihe

From the author of the now-classic Resource Wars, this account explores how diminishing global energy sources are reshaping international power dynamics. Recently, Congress blocked a significant Chinese attempt to acquire the American energy firm Unocal, sparking fears of a Communist threat. However, this incident highlighted a broader shift in global power structures, now increasingly reliant on access to vital natural resources rather than traditional market forces or military might. Michael Klare, a leading expert on resource geopolitics, examines the energy-driven changes reshaping the world, predicting new alliances and potential conflicts. World leaders are confronted with the reality that essential materials for modern industrial societies—including oil, natural gas, uranium, coal, and copper—are finite and depleting rapidly. Consequently, governments are taking the lead in resource acquisition, moving away from corporate dominance. In this transformed landscape, Russia emerges as a powerful broker of Eurasian energy, while the U.S. faces competition from the rising "Chindia" alliance. Klare argues that in this shrinking world, the path to survival hinges on international cooperation.