Clive, you raise an important point about blindly moving from a fossil-fuel funded elitist governing scenario (OPEC oil and gas) to a clean energy funded elitist governing scenario (wind, solar, wave, tidal, etc) via a 'business/operating as usual' approach. Many country elites will exploit their nation's natural resources and populations no matter what they are governing over (diamonds, gold, wheat, water, cattle, minerals, land, energy, etc), so IMHO this is a wider issue than just contracting with countries for better/cleaner energy of various colours and flavours.


However, I believe a transition to clean and responsible energy offers an opportunity to evolve the political and economic engagement with country elites and transition to responsible governance and responsible business arrangements. However, changing from poor governance by corrupt elites into better governance ethos (not necessarily a western governance model) with responsible and ethnically/culturally/religiously fairer governments that work better for the good, and citizens, of a nation will take strong incentives to change, nudging with the right 'carrots and sticks', and personal, business, ethical and cultural change for many.


How does one break the negativity of 'power corrupts' cycles and stressed and strained cultures ingrained in many societies?


Our democracies in the west aren't perfect as we still have many elites, inequalities and poverty within our 'democratic' countries. We have also suffered the 'blow back' consequences (but not necessarily learned the lessons of) trying to impose 'western democracy' on nations that may not be suited to our model of operating, and have violently rejected 'imposed imperialism, Westernism, and capitalism' that ignores embedded wider issues.


However, some form of 'nationally attuned benevolent dictatorship' could turn countries around - but when does a benevolent dictator just become a dictator? Many cite Singapore, early Turkey, Oman, Seychelles, as examples of countries that provide good governance via a form of benevolent dictatorship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benevolent_dictatorship 

 

There will always be the 'exploiters' and the 'exploited', but perhaps we could reduce the latter with smarter use of clean energy to bring 'power to the people'?

Clive, you raise an important point about blindly moving from a fossil-fuel funded elitist governing scenario (OPEC oil and gas) to a clean energy funded elitist governing scenario (wind, solar, wave, tidal, etc) via a 'business/operating as usual' approach. Many country elites will exploit their nation's natural resources and populations no matter what they are governing over (diamonds, gold, wheat, water, cattle, minerals, land, energy, etc), so IMHO this is a wider issue than just contracting with countries for better/cleaner energy of various colours and flavours.


However, I believe a transition to clean and responsible energy offers an opportunity to evolve the political and economic engagement with country elites and transition to responsible governance and responsible business arrangements. However, changing from poor governance by corrupt elites into better governance ethos (not necessarily a western governance model) with responsible and ethnically/culturally/religiously fairer governments that work better for the good, and citizens, of a nation will take strong incentives to change, nudging with the right 'carrots and sticks', and personal, business, ethical and cultural change for many.


How does one break the negativity of 'power corrupts' cycles and stressed and strained cultures ingrained in many societies?


Our democracies in the west aren't perfect as we still have many elites, inequalities and poverty within our 'democratic' countries. We have also suffered the 'blow back' consequences (but not necessarily learned the lessons of) trying to impose 'western democracy' on nations that may not be suited to our model of operating, and have violently rejected 'imposed imperialism, Westernism, and capitalism' that ignores embedded wider issues.


However, some form of 'nationally attuned benevolent dictatorship' could turn countries around - but when does a benevolent dictator just become a dictator? Many cite Singapore, early Turkey, Oman, Seychelles, as examples of countries that provide good governance via a form of benevolent dictatorship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benevolent_dictatorship 

 

There will always be the 'exploiters' and the 'exploited', but perhaps we could reduce the latter with smarter use of clean energy to bring 'power to the people'?