Will an energy revolution bring the end of US hegemony? | Helen Thompson

“In the long history, disorder is more the norm than order.”
However, the conjunction of an energy revolution and energy crisis is 'unprecedented', and may bring about the emergence of a new global hegemony, says Helen Thompson, author of Disorder: Hard times in the 21st Century.
The 21st century has brought a powerful tide of geopolitical, economic, and democratic shocks. Their fallout has led central banks to create over $25 trillion of new money, brought about a new age of geopolitical competition, destabilised the Middle East, ruptured the European Union, and exposed old political fault lines in the United States.
Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century is a long history of this present political moment. It recounts three histories - one about geopolitics, one about the world economy, and one about western democracies - and explains how in the years of political disorder prior to the pandemic the disruption in each became one big story. It shows how much of this turbulence originated in problems generated by fossil-fuel energies, and it explains why as the green transition takes place the long-standing predicaments energy invariably shapes will remain in place.
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[@jeffreyharris3440]

I think the author is underestimating the difficulty in sourcing metals for renewable energy and batteries.

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

If your not going to have CC or sub titles turn up your modulation. All I heard was two people whisper in a room. This isn't the first time this has occurred with these two people...

[@bbbdco]

You have to turn on CC And subtitles yourself. Click the button at the upper right hand of the screen. I had no problems with subtitles.

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

@@bbbdco yeah, I know. Often after a period of time they will function. I just caught broadcast too soon. Then I forget to check back and interview gets lost...thanks though..

[@DecMurphy]

My right ear enjoyed this

[@martinoamello3017]

A bit understated was when oil started to be pumped out of the ground en masse along with piping gas around to cities and eventually rural areas. That alone was a HUGE revolution compared with heating homes and businesses with coal that for many, many years was dug up out of the ground by dirt poor mine workers. Their lives didn't even radically change till the advent of huge, earth moving equipment and oil fueled rail lines. Fast forward a few decades and now we're just now beginning to attempt to move on from fossil fuels. Remember, most homes and electricity was still coal fired up until the 60s and 70s in most places. It took decades to move on to natural gas. Anyone who thinks the "green revolution" will be the global standard anytime soon is simply living in a fantasy world. Only the very rich will benefit initially and it'll take decades and decades to trickle down to us mere mortals in any significant way.

[@thesuncollective1475]

Wow, incredibly insightful and telling. (Maybe display her book on the table?)

[@lairddougal3833]

Nope. The Republicans might, but not an energy revolution. Better to ask what the implications for Saudi power in the ME.

[@GG-sr5ty]

definitely a democratic excess. brexit vote should have never happened. UK need to rejoin. it will still get worst for UK and European union then it will get stable at the lower point while other countries in the world would have made noticeable gains

[@tbyte007]

The left audio channel is missing ?

[@doughooper9918]

No because the American economy can be very flexible. Once the tide turns away from fossil fuels the US economy will adapt very quickly.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Hegemony. Useful word.

[@janmalaszek1459]

So a SMALL group of people decided the outcome of the 2019 general election?

[@doughooper9918]

Ever since citizens united the rich now controlled both parties in the United States so the outcome of the election is insignificant.

[@Muzakman37]

Labour base voters generally vote Labour, Tory base voters generally vote Tory, LibDem voters more often than not generally vote LibDem. Those numbers don't really shift very much in *any* election, when a relatively sizeable but not especially big minority of Labour voters shift Tory, as they did in 2019, or when a relatively small number of Tories voted Labour in 1997, seismic changes happen in elections. Elections are usually decided by about 5% (at most 10%) of the electorate, that's usually it.

[@evolvedape3341]

Our Lord and Savior, blessings be upon him, Ronald Reagan.

[@suXses]

Denial is the first reaction. It's okay. Energy is just one part of it.

[@marcussellers5860]

Nothing like a sallow analysis of history! Great job, Times radio!

[@Charlie-UK]

A Sober & rational analysis of the coming Energy crunch & subsequent disorder. Brexit and boosterism didn't get us very far did it. Nothing like a cold, hard dose of reality, to blow away those Separatist fantasies...

[@sailor67duilio27]

back to the future 1973

[@cobbler40]

Going back in time is what the ring wing do !

[@lestermarshall6501]

I think geothermal will be the major replacement for fossil fuels. Every country in the world has access to it and it works 24/7 365 rain or shine, day and night.

[@put4558350]

geothermal is most expensive (If plan is to make electricity) . but good for used in hose. if plan is to have small number of power plants that work in the night. There is options. - CSP (store enagy as heat in cheaper molten salt) - Nuclear power plants Sola cell is cheap for work place. and work in day time without big - expensive battery.

[@mikelyras9034]

Well, even if the thoughts put on the table by the writer of the book are right or wrong, I have to admit that it is never a bad thing to listen to a person that seems to have an excess of knowledge on pressing matters. This same point also goes for the always exciting process of reading other people's opinions in the comment section. For me, it is not whether she is right or wrong but rather hearing a new perspective.

[@Anton-ji4td]

Well she is a bundle of laughs.

[@salvyv]

Perhaps if you are after light entertainment you are watching the wrong content?

[@Muzakman37]

She's a Cambridge professor, intellectuals aren't generally known for being wisecracks. She's also one the best speakers on this topic you're gonna hear, when you're done here, pop up a video of Peter Kay.

[@MercilessGuitar151]

There is not going to any big energy revolution any time soon. While this "might" be worse than the energy crisis in the 70s, it is not in the US. Our unemoyment is lower, inflation is not as high. Gas prices have gone up, but there is not a situation where gas stations have no gas and the massive lines at the stations that do have, like in the 70s. Thisdituation will pass in time. I'm hearing more about utopian dreams than actual reality.

[@mikefallwell1301]

When people really start to hurt they will turn to nuclear energy which is the cheapest and cleanest current form. Molten salt reactors have the potential to be many times cheaper and smaller than current systems.