Venue: VHS, Uraniastraße 1, 1010

Lecture on “Energy, inequality and democracy”

Energy has always been at the heart of social inequalities, shaping hierarchies and power dynamics throughout history. From agrarian societies reliant on solar energy to fossil-fueled industrial revolutions, access to and control over energy resources have driven economic and political struggles. This lecture will explore how different energy regimes—from land-based wealth in pre-industrial societies to coal and oil-driven economies—have structured social orders, fueled conflicts over wealth distribution, and shaped political decisions about ownership and governance. Drawing on insights from economic history and environmental sciences, we will examine past efforts to democratize energy systems and how these lessons can inform today’s debates on ecological transition. Challenging the idea that energy history is purely technical or politically predetermined, this talk will argue that moving away from fossil fuels raises fundamental questions of power and wealth redistribution—questions that remain unanswered: Who will control energy and material resources in the future? How can ecological constraints lead to greater socioeconomic and political equality? By revisiting historical models of energy socialization in the 20th century, this lecture will advocate for a democratic energy system as essential to a future in which societies reclaim power over markets—within both the limits and possibilities of the material world.

Follow this link for more information on Lucas Chancel's visit to Vienna: Lucas Chancel - International Karl Polanyi Society