Carbon Democracy: Political Power in the Age of Oil by Timothy Mitchell is a thought-provoking examination of how the production, distribution, and consumption of fossil fuels, particularly oil, have shaped modern political systems, economic structures, and forms of governance. Mitchell argues that energy sources are not just material resources but are deeply intertwined with political power, social relations, and the possibilities for democratic engagement. He traces the historical development of carbon-based energy economies, showing how coal and later oil shaped labor relations, state authority, and the capacity for collective action.

A central theme of the book is the idea that the physical properties of energy sources influence political organization: coal, for instance, concentrated labor in centralized locations such as mines and factories, giving workers leverage to organize strikes and influence political decisions, contributing to early forms of labor-based democracy. In contrast, oil’s flexibility, mobility, and reliance on specialized infrastructure allowed for greater control by elites, reducing the bargaining power of workers and enabling centralized state and corporate dominance. Mitchell illustrates how these energy regimes affect international relations, economic policy, and geopolitical strategies, from colonial extraction to modern oil markets, revealing the profound links between energy and power.

The book also engages with the broader theoretical implications of “energy regimes” for understanding democracy, suggesting that political freedom and collective action are materially conditioned by the infrastructure and logistics of energy production and distribution. By connecting political theory, history, and the materiality of energy, Mitchell demonstrates that energy transitions are not only technological but also political, shaping the contours of social and political life. Ultimately, Carbon Democracy challenges conventional understandings of democracy and power by revealing how energy systems underpin the possibilities for political participation, state control, and societal transformation, making it a seminal work for those interested in energy politics, political economy, and the intersections of material resources and governance.