#5526
Mentioned in 13 episodes
Disorder
Hard Times in the 21st Century
Book • 2022
In 'Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century', Helen Thompson provides a comprehensive explanation for the recent disruptions in global politics.
She argues that the standard explanations for the rise of populist nationalism and authoritarianism are too simplistic and instead examines the large-scale societal shifts, particularly in how the world produces and consumes energy.
The book delves into the geopolitical instability caused by the global energy rivalry between the United States, Russia, and China, and how changes in international monetary policy have remade the world economy along fragile fault lines.
Thompson concludes that these factors have precipitated the crisis of democracy in Western nations, highlighting how Western governments have become more focused on the consent of plutocrats than their own citizens.
She argues that the standard explanations for the rise of populist nationalism and authoritarianism are too simplistic and instead examines the large-scale societal shifts, particularly in how the world produces and consumes energy.
The book delves into the geopolitical instability caused by the global energy rivalry between the United States, Russia, and China, and how changes in international monetary policy have remade the world economy along fragile fault lines.
Thompson concludes that these factors have precipitated the crisis of democracy in Western nations, highlighting how Western governments have become more focused on the consent of plutocrats than their own citizens.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 13 episodes
Mentioned by the podcast host as the author of the book, discussing economic shifts.
35 snips
Tariff Special: The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Helen Thompson (Part Two)
Mentioned by 
Jonny Dymond as an expert on globalization and the political economy of energy, and author of the book.
Jonny Dymond as an expert on globalization and the political economy of energy, and author of the book.30 snips
Tariff Special: The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Helen Thompson (Part One)
Mentioned by 
Tom Holland as a book that casts the current crisis in Ukraine as being part of a continuum that reaches back at least a century.
Tom Holland as a book that casts the current crisis in Ukraine as being part of a continuum that reaches back at least a century.
20 snips
167. Oil: The Making of the Modern World
Mentioned by 
Kamal Ahmed as the author of 'Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century', which was shortlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Business Book of the Year.
Kamal Ahmed as the author of 'Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century', which was shortlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Business Book of the Year.17 snips
Can We Live Well Without Economic Growth? - Part 1
Mentioned as the author's latest book, discussing hard times in the 21st century.
15 snips
John Gray on the US Election and a World After Liberalism, Part One
Recommended by 
Mark Blyth as an under-read book that understands how important energy is to global power and global change.
Mark Blyth as an under-read book that understands how important energy is to global power and global change.
Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli, "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" (W. W. Norton & Co, 2025)
Mentioned by Adam Dixon as the author of the book, which discusses the geopolitics of energy and the energy transition.
The Geopolitics of the Energy Transition with Helen Thompson
Mentioned by Andrew Hill as a book about events that unfolded in Ukraine.
FT Business Book of the Year longlist
Mentioned by Lee Vinsel as the basis for their conversation, focusing on her approach to geopolitical analysis and the centrality of energy geopolitics.
Helen Thompson on Disorder and the Analysis of Contemporary Geopolitics
Recommended by 
Mark Blythe , about how important energy is to sort of global power and global change.
Mark Blythe , about how important energy is to sort of global power and global change. Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli, "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" (W. W. Norton & Co, 2025)
Mentioned by Andrew Marr as a book exploring decades of geopolitical history leading to current global conflicts and the climate crisis.
Disorder: Ukraine, Politics and Conflict in the 21st Century, with Helen Thompson
Mentioned by Lee Vinsel as the author of the book and to explain her approach to geopolitical analysis.
Helen Thompson on Disorder and the Analysis of Contemporary Geopolitics
