The Daily Planet #38: Electrostates, Part 5 - Electrostates as a New Chapter in the History of Modernization

The trajectory of modernization has been inextricably linked to the mastery of high-intensity forms of energy. Just as the age of coal powered the first industrial revolution and petroleum fueled the rise of twentieth-century superpowers, we now stand at the threshold of a new epoch. The emergence of electrostates represents a fundamental shift in how nations build power, prosperity, and influence—marking not merely an energy transition, but an entirely new stage in the history of modernization itself.

To understand the significance of electrostates, we must first examine how energy regimes have shaped the modern world order. In earlier stages of modernization, national power and development were closely tied to the mastery of fossil fuels, heavy industry, and mass electrification. These energy foundations didn't merely power economies—they fundamentally shaped both domestic modernity and the global balance of power.

The rise of petrostates in the twentieth century exemplifies this dynamic. As fossil energy became the engine driving industry, transportation, and geopolitics, nations controlling oil and gas resources gained outsized influence on the world stage. Their power derived not only from resource endowments but from their ability to fuel the industrial machinery that defined modern civilization.

The future of material and technological progress is deeply intertwined with the availability and use of energy. Historically, breakthroughs such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium emerged because society could invest more energy into their production, enabling superior materials that transformed industries. While energy-intensive materials often require significant input, they deliver improved performance and environmental benefits, as seen in examples like lightweight aluminum cans reducing overall lifecycle emissions compared to glass bottles.

The evolution of materials is not limited by energy alone but increasingly by our ability to structure and process them at finer scales, with innovations like high-entropy and highly structured materials promising vast new possibilities.

The future is made of energy | Orca Notes

A megatrend way bigger than decarbonization is probably the key to abundance and sustainability both.