Global Energy Transitions and the Future of Systemic Leadership
Year: 2013
Type: preprint
Abstract: A hallmark of political-economic leadership in the world economy is ample and privileged access to sources of energy. A relatively inexpensive energy source is critical to literally fueling technological and economic growth that outpaces, for a time, the rest of the world. The Dutch had peat, the British had coal, and the United States had petroleum. What should we expect next? The question is particularly compelling if we are in the early days of a political-economic transition with China possibly surpassing the United States at some point in the century. Or will the United States preserve its lead with the aid of the advent of a newly heralded period of energy independence? The potential compounding of transitions – both energy and political-economic – draw attention to energy supply and access questions. Answers about energy transitions may provide major clues to the future shape of systemic leadership transitions.
Source: SSRN Electronic Journal
Authors: William R. Thompson, Leila Zakhirova
Institutions: Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University
Language: English
Subfield: General Energy
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1597693749