Jacobin Radio Behind the News: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature w/ Alyssa Battistoni
Dec 23, 2025
Thea Riofrancos, a political scientist and author of "Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism," discusses the complexities of lithium extraction essential for green technology. She critiques the mining industry's volatility and colonial legacies while exploring the environmental impact of electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Alyssa Battistoni, an assistant professor and author of "Free Gifts," delves into the political economy of nature, arguing for a rethinking of our relationship with ecosystems and advocating for socialized commons management.
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Lithium As The Energy Transition MVP
- Lithium is central to electrifying transport and storing grid energy, making it the MVP of the energy transition.
- Meeting projected demand requires hundreds of new mines and massive expansion of the sector within decades.
Scale And Footprint Of New Mines
- Analysts estimate we may need roughly 400 new mines by 2035 for battery raw materials, including about 70 lithium mines.
- The scale and footprint of each new mine are enormous and politically fraught.
Abundant Geology, Concentrated Production
- Lithium is geologically abundant but production is concentrated in a few countries like Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina.
- The production map differs from the geology map, creating geopolitical supply tensions.