Chinese Blues in the Congolese Earth: America's Green Energy Dilemma

Abstract

The inevitable beat of climate change that the world has begun marching to has forced an American policy change. As Washington begins to seriously undertake the task of converting the source of the enormous American energy demand from fossil fuels to green sources, new geopolitical roadblocks have emerged that the United States must clear in order to ensure its own energy security. The shift towards green sources will shift the raw material demand from sources like oil, gas, and coal towards a wide array of minerals. This paper is looking to accomplish a few things. First and foremost, it is looking to analyze the Congolese cobalt trade as a means of expressing how the emerging demand for minerals as a necessity for American energy puts the United States within the crosshairs of China’s more than decade long mineral monopoly. Secondly, this paper is looking to use this analysis to bring green energy into the study of power within International Relations. The Chinese monopoly of cobalt pokes at a growing wound in the American ego as its relative strength to the United States engenders American fears of losing political economic autonomy and potential dependency on China. This paper will build on the relationship between China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States to assess how the US is attempting to clear the hurdle of the Chinese cobalt monopoly to secure its green future.