Anthropocene Geopolitics: Living in a Globalized World

We live in a globalized world. The clothes we buy, the food we eat, and the beliefs we hold have consequences on the other side of the planet. In fact, these activities—and many more—impact our climate on a global scale. And paradoxically, not only does our consumption cause problems, but so do our solutions, whether by halting the use of fossil fuels or designing massive geoengineering projects. As Simon Dalby, author of Anthropocene Geopolitics: Globalization, Security, Sustainability, notes, “Increasingly we are living in an artificial world…the decisions we make about which technologies to deploy, how and where, have got all sorts of potential dangers…That’s no longer something we can ignore and it’s part of living in the Anthropocene.”

In this third episode, Simon discusses globalization, geoengineering, and geopolitics. He explains the potential risks of geoengineering solutions like nuclear power and offers context around security and climate change. He touches on the US military’s connection to the climate crisis, and the duality of America as a global climate protector and one of the worst offenders. Last, Simon discusses how the unequal effects of climate change will continue to impact geopolitics as the oceans rise and people are forced to migrate.

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