The extraction industry powering the green transition (from the Rhodes Center Podcast)

About this episode

The episode discusses the geopolitics and economics of lithium extraction and its role in the green transition.

Lithium is an essential ingredient of most modern electronics. It helps to power our phones, our laptops, and increasingly EVs and other key parts of the green transition. As Thea Riofrancos, a political scientist and author of the new book “Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism,” explains, the story of lithium — how it's mined, how it’s refined, and how it makes its way around the world — isn’t just a business story. It's a story of geopolitics and power. On this episode (originally published on the Rhodes Center Podcast, another podcast from the Watson School), Watson political economist and Rhodes Center director Mark Blyth talks with Thea about the politics and economics of lithium extraction, how the race to electrify our energy supply is reshaping the global economy, and what it means for the future of our planet. Learn more about and purchase Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism Watch Mark and Thea’s discussion at the Watson School

People in this episode

Host: Mark Blyth

Guest: Thea Riofrancos

Topics covered

• lithium extraction
• green transition
• geopolitics
• economics
• electric vehicles

Keywords

• lithium
• green capitalism
• electric vehicles
• geopolitics
• energy supply

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rhodes Center Podcast, Watson School

Books & works: Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism

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