Communism = Soviets + Electrification: The Electric Grid

About this episode

The episode discusses the electric grid, focusing on electrification efforts in the USSR and China, the current state of the US grid, and future possibilities for electricity.

Matt and Rudy join RK to discuss several facets of the electric grid. We talk about the USSR's and China's attempts at electrification, how a modern grid looks like, the current US grid and its governing authorities, and a discussion on possible futures for electricity. References: RK's thoughts con rural cooperatives: https://jnanayuddha.wordpress.com/2022/08/16/reflections-on-rural-electric-cooperatives-and-socialist-organizing/ Matt T. Huber & Fred Stafford's articles: Socialist Politics and the Electricity Grid, The Utility of Utilities and Won't Somebody Please Think of the Grid? Further recommendations, National: The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future by Gretchen Bakke, 2016 Short Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States by Leah Stokes, 2020 California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas & Electric, and What It Means for America's Power Grid by Katherine Blunt, 2022 The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won't Save the Planet by Brett Christophers, 2024 International: The Low-Carbon Contradiction: Energy Transition, Geopolitics, and the Infrastructural State in Cuba by Gustav…

People in this episode

Host: RK

Guests: Matt, Rudy

Topics covered

• electric grid
• electrification
• USSR
• China
• energy policy
• future of electricity

Keywords

• electric grid
• electrification
• USSR
• China
• energy policy
• future of electricity
• rural cooperatives
• clean energy
• climate policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USSR, China

Books & works: The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future, Short Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States, California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas & Electric, and What It Means for America's Power Grid, The Price is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won't Save the Planet, The Low-Carbon Contradiction: Energy Transition, Geopolitics, and the Infrastructural State in Cuba, Recharging China in War and Revolution, 1882-1955, Sinews of Power: The Politics of the State Grid Corporation of China, Electrifying India: Regional Political Economies of Development, The Electrification of Russia, 1880-1926

More episodes of Cosmopod

• Corbynism vs Partyism: the rise and demise of Your Party · May 20, 2026 · 1h 40m
• The Marxist in Residence: an interview with David Harvey · March 27, 2026 · 1h 22m
• Interview: Oliver Larkin for Congress · March 11, 2026 · 1h 44m
• The Last Soviet States? Scandinavian Social Democracy · February 12, 2026 · 1h 46m
• An Arduous March: The Development of North Korea's Political Economy · January 8, 2026 · 1h 50m
• Your Party Founding Conference: Fiasco or Triumph? [Stream audio] · December 12, 2025 · 2h 17m