New Books Network Helen Thompson on Disorder and the Analysis of Contemporary Geopolitics
May 19, 2025
Helen Thompson, a Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University and co-host of These Times, offers a deep dive into contemporary geopolitical analysis. She discusses her book 'Disorder' and how energy geopolitics shapes global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East. The conversation navigates the ties between energy resources and events like Brexit and the U.S. election, while also emphasizing the role of democratic politics in energy transitions. Thompson critiques traditional theories, calling for a new perspective on global stability.
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Learning Analytical Detachment
- Helen Thompson learned early the value of analytical detachment from emotions in studying politics.
- Her undergraduate teacher demanded leaving emotion behind to truly understand political developments like Thatcher's era.
Energy Interest Origins
- Helen Thompson's interest in energy began with puzzling over rising oil prices without inflation around 2005.
- She links the shale boom and quantitative easing as macroeconomic forces reshaping energy geopolitics.
Finance and Energy Interlinked
- Finance and energy are inseparable forces shaping the global economy and state politics.
- Energy upheavals and financial instability tend to coincide, like in the 1970s and 2007-2008 crises.
