Rare Earth Politics: How Critical Mineral Control Shapes Geopolitical Relationships

The green energy transition and the AI boom share a common dependency: a small set of critical minerals concentrated in a handful of countries. This course traces how control over lithium, cobalt, neodymium, and others is reshaping alliances, supply chains, and industrial policy. We examine China’s dominant position, Western efforts to diversify, and the geopolitical consequences of the race to secure these materials.