New Books in Economics Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism with Thea Riofrancos
Jan 6, 2026
Thea Riofrancos, an Associate Professor of Political Science and a leading voice on resource extraction, delves into the complex world of lithium mining in her latest book, focusing on the environmental costs of green capitalism. She highlights the ethical dilemma we face: can we achieve decarbonization without harming our planet? Thea also discusses the geopolitical implications of lithium supply chains, the rising role of China, and the transformative potential of reshoring in the U.S. as we navigate the future of clean energy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Lithium Is Politically Significant
- Lithium matters because lithium-ion batteries are essential for decarbonizing transport and storing renewable energy.
- Its political salience stems from the auto industry's economic and strategic importance.
Design The Transition Backwards From Your Goal
- Start from the equitable zero‑emissions world you want and work backwards to map material requirements.
- Use that material inventory to assess how much extraction is necessary and where to mitigate harms.
Extraction Reinforces Global Inequality
- Extraction tends to be spatially uneven: sites of mining rarely capture the most value from final products.
- That mismatch generates political pressure in resource-rich global South countries to move up the value chain.
