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Helen Thompson

Helen Thompson is Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University. She contributes a fortnightly column to the New Statesman and her most recent book Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century was published in February by Oxford University Press.
Helen Thompson is Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University. She contributes a fortnightly column to the New Statesman and her most recent book Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century was published in February by Oxford University Press.
'The Progress of Steam. A View in Regent's Park, 1831', 1828. Steam-powered coaches, horses, tricycles, including one with body like a teapot, are speeding along or blowing up and causing traffic chaos in Regent's Park, London. Aquatint after Henry Alken (1774-1851).

Is energy the god of progress?

Helen Thompson

American historian Henry Adams’ optimistic creed of progress and energy innovation foundered on technological forces unleashed in the 20th century.

Saudi Aramco's Shayba oilfields in the desert dunes of Saudi Arabia.

The geopolitical fight to come over green energy

Helen Thompson

The struggle for sustainable energy will soon put China, the US and Europe on a geopolitical collision course. But moving away from fossil fuels is a Herculean task, and a greener politics will not transcend tragedy.

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