Author: Daniel Yergin
Rating:

Throughout human history, energy discovery and access have been major drivers of both progress and conflict. Due to its high energy density and relatively low extraction cost, oil has been a focal point of competition among nations. Its extremely uneven global distribution has also made it a critical factor in geopolitics.

Daniel Yergin, a global energy expert, won a Pulitzer Prize for his book The Prize, which is widely regarded as “the best history of oil ever written.” In his 2020 book The New Map, Yergin examines the shifting global energy landscape and its impact on geopolitics.

The book begins with the “shale revolution” that took place in the United States about a decade ago. The discovery of new oil fields in North America, along with technological breakthroughs that significantly lowered the cost of shale extraction, enabled the U.S. to surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s leading oil producer. This reduced dependence on foreign oil has, in turn, expanded U.S. influence and strategic options on global issues.

Yergin also examines the histories and strategic choices of other key oil-producing regions, including Russia, the Middle East, and China. Readers gain insight into various geopolitical dynamics, such as environmental groups’ opposition to the Keystone oil pipeline, Russia’s territorial disputes with Ukraine and their connection to energy supply, Europe’s tensions with the U.S. over Russian pipelines, and the interplay between OPEC and non-OPEC nations during energy crises. The book also explores the roles of smaller nations like Kuwait and Bahrain in Middle Eastern geopolitics, as well as the deep connection between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and national economic security.

For readers well-versed in international politics, the book may not introduce groundbreaking ideas. However, it effectively connects various historical events through the lens of oil, helping readers understand the technological and economic developments that have shaped global energy policies and national security strategies over the decades.

The book also touches on the evolving role of renewable energy. While wind and solar power have become integral to the energy mix, their low energy density and high storage and transportation costs make them less viable without government subsidies. As a result, renewable energy remains expensive and not yet widely adopted. Toward the end, the author shifts focus to electric vehicles and artificial intelligence—topics that feel somewhat disconnected and, in my view, unnecessary.