Resources, Power, and Nation Building: Critical Minerals and the New Geopolitics of the 21st

About this episode

Dr. Haroon Hakimi discusses the role of critical minerals in nation building and global geopolitics based on his research and experiences.

In his new book, Resources, Power, and Nation Building: Afghanistan and the Promise of Minerals, Dr. Haroon Hakimi analyzes how critical and strategic minerals can either underpin nation building efforts or intensify conflicts. Drawing on his doctoral research at the Institute of World Politics, this lecture examines lessons from U.S. nation building, China’s resource strategy, and the emerging global competition over critical minerals that is reshaping power in the 21st century. Dr. Haroon Hakimi is an academic practitioner with more than fifteen years of experience across media, public policy, research, teaching, and diplomacy. His career bridges government service and scholarly research, focusing on the connections between energy and mineral security, national resilience, and international stability. A former diplomat and senior government official, Dr. Hakimi, has advised on foreign affairs, resource policy, and strategic communications at the national and international levels. He has served as Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Tourism of Afghanistan, and Head of Chancery and Latin America Affairs at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C. Currently…

People in this episode

Guest: Dr. Haroon Hakimi

Topics covered

• critical minerals
• nation building
• geopolitics
• energy security
• resource strategy
• global competition

Keywords

• critical minerals
• nation building
• geopolitics
• energy security
• Afghanistan
• resource policy
• China's resource strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute of World Politics, America–Eurasia Center, Global Policy Institute

Places: Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.

More episodes of The Institute of World Politics

• Why Poland Is Inconvenient for EU’s Left-Liberal Elites · May 19, 2026 · 27 min
• Remembered Homelands, Divided Lands: Ottoman Legacies and the Roots of Ethnic Conflict · May 19, 2026 · 27 min
• The Life and Fate of Paweł Z. Woś. Methodology of Research on the Polish War Generation · May 19, 2026 · 26 min
• Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin’s Secret War · May 6, 2026 · 54 min
• The European Union as a Defense Actor · April 1, 2026 · 51 min
• Wife, Mother, Spy: An Extraordinary Life Filled with Ordinary Days. · March 31, 2026 · 1h 4m