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The Polycrisis

The Polycrisis
China
United States
Energy Transition
Electric Vehicles
Oil and Gas
Clean Tech
Pakistan
Solar Power
Africa
Global Energy Transition
Inflation Reduction Act
Fossil Fuels

Tim Sahay and Kate Mackenzie on how geopolitics has been driving a quiet revolution in clean tech, and how the energy transition is in turn reshaping world power.

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Latest Episodes

In this first bonus episode, we discuss why the Middle East war is accelerating the destruction of demand for fossil fuels, and why the US won’t become the new provider of "geopolitically secure” oil and gas.

We also argue about whether the data is ... more

Can the US stop the electric wave? In 2022 the US introduced its first ever set of serious climate policies. That took an unprecedented collaboration of racial justice, environment and labour interests. But oil and gas interests fought back quickly a... more

China didn’t set out to fix climate change. Its production of clean energy and electrification tech is changing the world, but this particular green revolution is a byproduct of China’s economic strategy and its quest for energy independence. The glo... more

How is the Middle East war going to change the energy strategies of many countries? 

Global powers have long relied upon the threat of cutting off fossil energy flows – or the revenues from selling them – to discipline and coerce other countries. Th... more

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Recent Guests

Rihanna Cahnwright
Climate policy director and coalition builder involved in IRA passage
Roosevelt Institute (former), New York City Mayor's office (advising)
Episode: 05 | Electric World Order | The US counterrevolution
Ted Fertig
Video: expert on manufacturing and industry in climate policy
Blue-Green Alliance (Vice President for Industry and Manufacturing)
Episode: 05 | Electric World Order | The US counterrevolution
Jessica Chenweiss
Security scholar, professor of China Studies, director of the Institute of China, America, and Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: 04 | Electric World Order | Manufacturing Chimerica
Jake Werner
Director of the East Asia program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Episode: 04 | Electric World Order | Manufacturing Chimerica
Helen Thompson
Professor of political economy at Cambridge University, author of Disorder
Cambridge University
Episode: 03 | Electric World Order | Demand destruction
Alex Turnbull
Hedge fund manager researching energy systems and critical minerals policy
Singapore hedge fund; Australian National University; Employee America
Episode: 03 | Electric World Order | Demand destruction
Mark Blyth
Professor of political science and international economics, Brown University
Brown University
Episode: 02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World
Ajakai Ajay (Aja Kai)
Researcher and fellow at the China Global South project, expert on Chinese energy investments in Africa
China Global South project
Episode: 02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World
Haneea Isaad
Researcher at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)
IEEFA
Episode: 01 | Electric World Order | The Quiet Revolution

Hosts

Kate Mackenzie
Host with a focus on energy and climate finance and policy, frequently engaging with geopolitics and industrial strategy
Tim Sahai
Host covering geopolitics and the energy transition, often discussing policy, markets, and technology policy

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04 | Electric World Order | Manufacturing Chimerica
Q: How did the global financial crisis affect China's industrial and energy policy?
It forced China to accelerate domestic industrial policies, expand subsidies, and pivot toward domestic production in clean energy to shield its economy from global demand shocks, thereby embedding energy security as a core strategic priority.
02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World
Q: What are the practical implications for Nigerians and other Africans when electricity access remains uneven or off-grid options proliferate?
Off-grid solar improves reliability and reduces costs for businesses, but it can undermine the viability of national utilities and create long-term financial stress for governments and utilities that rely on a broad customer base to stay solvent.
02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World
Q: What is the role of Chinese investment in Africa's energy infrastructure, and how is it different from Western approaches?
Chinese investment often comes as a bundled package—financing plus a contractor—reducing upfront risk for African governments and enabling faster project delivery, though it raises questions about debt sustainability and local capacity building.
02 | Electric World Order | Rest of World
Q: Can you explain why the US dollar remains so central to the energy pathway and how that affects a country's energy choices outside the US and China?
The dollar acts as a universal anchor, with most trade and oil priced in dollars; countries depend on dollar access for financing and imports, so breaking from that system can shrink their influence and access to energy resources, making energy choices heavily tied to maintaining dollar stability.
01 | Electric World Order | The Quiet Revolution
Q: What is the potential future relationship between China's industrial policy and global decarbonization efforts?
China's factories and supply chains could be built in other regions, spreading its decarbonization model and technologies internationally, which could accelerate global clean tech deployment while also reshaping regional development and energy security dynamics.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Polycrisis

What is The Polycrisis about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Geopolitics and the energy transition are treated as an intertwined, ongoing evolution rather than separate trends. Across recent episodes, the conversation centers on how clean-tech advancements, industrial policy, and strategic energy choices are reshaping global power dynamics, with a particular focus on US–China competition, domestic policy shifts, and the economics of decarbonization. Guests frequently bring policy, research, and market perspectives to bear—from rare-earths strategy and solar manufacturing to the political economy of subsidies and the evolving role of energy security in national strategy. A standout throughline is the “polycrisis” framing: seemingly different pressures—security, climate policy, and trade—are co-evolvin... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Polycrisis:

1. This Machine Kills
2. Politics Theory Other
3. Shift Key with Robinson Meyer
4. Macrodose
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of The Polycrisis are there?

The Polycrisis launched 2 months ago and published 8 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Polycrisis?

Recent guests on The Polycrisis include:

1. Rihanna Cahnwright
2. Ted Fertig
3. Jessica Chenweiss
4. Jake Werner
5. Helen Thompson
6. Alex Turnbull
7. Mark Blyth
8. Ajakai Ajay (Aja Kai)

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