Oil as a tool for geopolitical dominance and the argument for autonomous, sustainable and clean energy sources and supply

The past century has been witness to the shifts in the balance of power as the world became more dependent on oil to fuel the global economic machinery.

Tumbling oil prices in the current world market betray the agenda of dominant suppliers as they aim for economic dominance over their rival countries. Take for instance the case of Iran, which has recently re-entered the global arena and is actively and aggressively expanding its domestic economy through trade deals with various partners. While the following statement is highly speculative and holds no factual merit, it can be argued that part of the reason why it is saturating the oil market is its desire to bring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to its knees. KSA is entirely dependent on oil for its economic stability and has had a thorny history with Iran. The same can be said for the United States, whose rivalry with Russia, it could be argued, did not end with the conclusion of the Cold War.

While this theory or retaliation, it must be reiterated, is purely rhetorical, for argument's sake, it must be noted that if the said intent is present, then these countries who are out for vendetta are succeeding. Using the global oil supply as a tool for geopolitcal dominance is indeed an effective one, for we know that KSA and Russia are currently experiencing economic doldrums as a result of the lower oil prices, which were in turn, caused by Iran, and the US and Canada's inundation of supply in the world market.

Such a thesis posits to us observers that safeguards must be put in place against such manipulation. As leaders tussle in the political arena, it is the common man who suffers the consequences of such actions. They are the ones who feel the pinch when the economy contracts, when their currency loses its value, and jobs are lost, not the suits who walk the halls of the White House or Kremlin.  

This global situation makes a strong case for developing locally available, sustainable, and clean energy sources to decentralise the balance of power and take it from the hands of the few who control the global oil supply.

There is an abundance of available technology worldwide to harness the geothermal, wind, solar, and hydropower energy sources that are abundant across the globe. Autonomising power sources does not only redound to cheaper energy, but a more resilient global ecosystem where countries are not at the mercy of the few who wish to wield geopolitical dominance by manipulating the world economy.

Moreover, clean and sustainable energy can be harnessed safely, without the risk of a fallout or disaster, as is common in nuclear technology. Apart from being costly, such power sources are dangerous, and in my personal point of view, its cost and risks far outweigh the benefits that can be culled from it.

With these alternative energy sources, smaller countries who do not have the capability to dominate the global economic arena, are able to check the dominant countries by their ability to run their domestic economies as they see fit, according to the needs of their people, without kowtowing to those who hold the energy supply hostage. They are able to exercise autonomy in their political and economic decisions. They are better able to channel available resources to address high priority issues in their locale.

With clean and sustainable energy, politically autonomous countries can define their goals and vision for their nation, unhindered by the worry or fear that they will not have enough energy supply to fuel the realisation of their dreams for their countrymen.

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