Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy | Michael T. Klare

Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy | Michael T. Klare | Rising Powers Shrinking Planet

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Rising Powers, Shr...

	Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy Michael T. Klare Metropolitan Books, 2008 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

From the author of the now-classic Resource Wars, an indispensable account of how the world?s diminishing sources of energy are radically changing the international balance of power Recently, an unprecedented Chinese attempt to acquire the major American energy firm Unocal was blocked by Congress amidst hysterical warnings of a Communist threat. But the political grandstanding missed a larger point: the takeover bid was a harbinger of a new structure of world power, based not on market forces or on arms and armies but on the possession of vital natural resources.

Surveying the energy-driven dynamic that is reconfiguring the international landscape, Michael Klare, the preeminent expert on resource geopolitics, forecasts a future of surprising new alliances and explosive danger. World leaders are now facing the stark recognition that all materials vital for the functioning of modern industrial societies (not just oil and natural gas but uranium, coal, copper, and others) are finite and being depleted at an ever-accelerating rate. As a result, governments rather than corporations are increasingly spearheading the pursuit of resources. In a radically altered world? where Russia is transformed from battered Cold War loser to arrogant broker of Eurasian energy, and the United States is forced to compete with the emerging ?Chindia? juggernaut?the only route to survival on a shrinking planet, Klare shows, lies through international cooperation.

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Good Problem Summary!

When the Cold war ended, Americans generally assumed the U.S. would enjoy unchallenged preponderance in the world. Instead, Russia now has reemerged as a major actor and the U.S. has, in contrast, sometimes found itself cajoling foreign suppliers to increase output. Meanwhile, China's foreign currency reserves in late 2007 were $1.4 trillion, and rich Arab states recently invested $20 billion into Citibank.

According to the U.S. DOE, world energy supplies must increase 57% over the next quarter-century. This will not be met by increased alternative fuels - existing sources will provide 87% of the total need, but be harder to obtain.

Many believe this DOE projection of increased supply is optimistic - it counts on a 67% increase from Saudi Arabia. Nearly half of current oil production comes from 116 fields - all but four were discovered over 25 years ago, and many are showing signs of diminished capacity. Regardless, current consumption is double the discovery rate. As for alternative sources, it takes about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to produce 1 million barrels of oil from tar sands, as well as enormous quantities of scare water. (Gas finds are similarly declining - production is expected to peak soon as well, and this is not even counting increased demand due to Kyoto promises to use less-polluting fuel.) Corn is no cure either - considerable energy is used producing ethanol and it already is linked to substantial protests over increased food prices.

America's military used 1 gallon of petroleum/soldier/day during WWII, 4 in Gulf War I, and 16 currently in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Other trends are that oil control is increasingly moving into national hands (eg. Russia, Venezuela), and oil companies are increasing their clout (and profits) by moving into refining, transportation, and marketing. Klare also tells us that coal production is expected to peak in the late 2020's, and nuclear fuel availability to last only 40 years - again assuming no increase in utilization.

Still another problem: Increasing "gunboat diplomacy" (eg. U.S. fleet sailing through the Straits of Hormuz, China and Japan squaring off over a large off-shore gas field that both claim, new U.S. and Russian bases in the "stans," and alliances between various nations to protect oil interests), and arming of second/third-level nations in Africa and the mid-East by the U.S., Russia, and China.

Klare suggests the U.S. begin working collaboratively with China, and increased research on alternatives fuel sources. Conservation is another key opportunity - for example, Paul Krugman's 5/12/08 column points out that France uses only half the per capita oil of the U.S., and is hardly considered an impoverished nation.

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Rising Powers Shrinking Planet

I found this book to be thorough, well written, and thought provoking. Though I had read other books about energy, this gave me a better understanding about the political aspects, changing alliances, and the extent of the problem. After several chapters that can be described as doom and gloom, Klare does offer some suggestions on the world's way out - if we make a serious effort to do so. I strongly recommend this book.

Worrisome Scenario

If anyone is wondering why we have such high gasoline prices in this country this book might give us some clues as to the reason(s) behind such increases in price- peak oil. But not just that- it's peak everything! Increasingly as China, India, Japan, Russia, United States, and Canada compete for natural resources, we are depleting them at a very rapid rate. The author thinks we are pretty much at peak oil and will soon reach peak natural gas in the next decade. Due to the increased competition for resources, alliances have been built to ensure access to these resources via weapons trade and security whether it be in Africa, Central Asia, or Latin America. Countries are even competing for the remaining 25% of oil reserves in the North Pole. Michael Klare believes that if this gun boat diplomacy build up continues, we will be looking at another global war which would be catatrophic for the world. Unfortunately, his suggestions for alternative energy sources are of little consolation give that research and development are still at the early stages and in no way can compete with petroleum. I seriously doubt diplomacy will work as Klare suggests given the history of world conflict and the quest for precious resources. I find the current state of world affairs to be very frightening. Nevertheless, this book provides important information that is sure to startle you. So if you want to understand world affairs and politics as it relates to oil and other natural resources, this book is a must. Highly recommend.

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An excellent accessment

A sobering non-ideological account of the struggle among world powers for energy resources.

The author points to actions that could be taken to avoid the catastrophe of world war or another arms race as countries seek to obtain control of the remaining world energy resources.

Rising shrinking

I have read all of Michael T. Klare's books and I think this is his best work. The book is well written and well thought out. I think some of his other works, his liberal colors show and he showed his personal dislike for the President and Republicans and conservatives in general and liked to play the blame game. Don't get me wrong, I am not a Republican or a Democrat, I am just saying I can be more objective than Mr. Klare because I dislike everybody equally, Mr. Klare is political. In the past Mr. Klare seems to show his world view might be colored because he might have been a 1960's hippie and he's spent a lot of his professional career in rich New Hampshire in the comfort and safety of rich, and comfortable Hampshire College in squeaky clean Amherst. I don't question the author's smarts or his honesty. He believes what he says. What does the author want? Page 252, "devise new technologies and industrial processes that consume fewer resources while stimulating economic growth, improving human life, and protecting the global climate." You don't want much do you honey?! Page 254, China and the United States, "cooperation would be the development of super-efficient, lightweight motor vehicles." More cars?! You are not asking for much are you Mr. Klare? Then why can't I have a wife that's always 117 pounds, is never moody and easy to get along with, has an IQ of 150 and loves to cut grass and clean the gutters and doesn't like to go shopping? I am sure Mr. Klare will remember the 1960's Rolling Stone song, "You can't always get what you want." I admire the Author's love of his son and his wife. Again, this is a sharp book by a very smart man. I am glad I bought it. Regards, Keith Renick, Peachtree City, Ga.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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