About this episode

Adam Tooze discusses the geopolitical dynamics of energy and the emerging Cold War influenced by electrification and fossil fuels.

China is racing ahead in electrification, while the US turns its back on green energy in favour of a new era of fossil fuel machismo. An alignment between the three major petrostates – the US, Saudi Arabia and Russia – no longer looks implausible. The outlines of a new Cold War are becoming visible, one which will be determined by a novel mixture of ideology, critical technologies, supply chains and control of energy flows. How will these geopolitical dynamics play out – and what will it mean for global warming? Adam Tooze is the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History and director of the European Institute at Columbia University. A columnist at Foreign Policy and a regular contributor to the LRB, he also writes Chartbook, a newsletter on economics, geopolitics and history. His books include ‘Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World’ and ‘Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy’. Adam Tooze's LRB Autumn Lecture was delivered at the New School, NYC on 27 October 2025 From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders…

People in this episode

Guest: Adam Tooze

Topics covered

• geopolitics
• energy
• Cold War
• electrification
• fossil fuels
• climate change

Keywords

• geopolitics
• energy flows
• Cold War
• electrification
• fossil fuels
• global warming
• supply chains

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Columbia University, Foreign Policy, London Review of Books

Books & works: Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World, Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy

Places: China, US, Saudi Arabia, Russia

More episodes of The LRB Podcast

• The Romantic History of the Bayeux Tapestry · September 6, 2026 · 60 min
• Roman Scandinavia · September 3, 2026 · 35 min
• Travel with Close Readings: ‘Invisible Cities’ by Italo Calvino · August 30, 2026 · 1h 37m
• Seamus Perry: Pluralism and the Modern Poet · August 26, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Travel with Close Readings: ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ by Henry James · August 23, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Adam Shatz: Visions of America · August 19, 2026 · 56 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The LRB Podcast podcast page.