Society and Oil
Oil remains a vital commodity around the world because it is used for many purposes. For instance, it’s used in the manufacture of cosmetics especially in hair application to deter it from attracting roughness and tangles. In the lubrication of machines, oil prevents wear and tear that causes friction. Additionally, in terms of fuel, oil plays a significant role in providing both electrical and mechanical energy into good use after conversion. However, presently, oil faces a threat because of a possible reduction that could destabilize most economies and cause losses to its many dependants. It could also spell havoc and instability.
A serious shift in military and economic might would occur if oil runs out of the society. This is because nations with huge barrels of oil such as those in the Middle East would lose the dominance and monopoly to others with different resources. Humanity would also be compelled to use coal as a form of supplementing its energy needs proving difficult for people to coexist harmoniously. Shifts in the international trade are likely to face changes because oil-rich countries can no longer affect the market pattern in global trading (Gonzalez, 2008). This eventually results to inflation that causes recession in the overall economy of the affected nation. Unfortunately, recession creates other new problems such as unemployment and the collapse of oil industries because people lack the raw materials to inspire them.
If society runs out of oil, manufacturing industries that deal with automobiles would also go defunct resulting to a gap in the generated income per capita in the country. The country’s GDP falls and therefore, the local costs of conducting business increases sharply. It also means the government solicits expenditure elsewhere in form of foreign aid because they lack the essential export to gain extra income for funding national projects such as infrastructure. According to environmental experts, civilization would face a severe test because they believe oil is the unifying factor of human beings across the globe (Heinberg, 2005). Conversely, before the end of civilization, countries would get embroiled in oil wars because governments would scramble for the remaining few oil deposits.
Positively, the reduction of oil would stimulate the use of technology in balancing the market forces to assist mankind in transforming their lives. This case is exemplified by the utilization of nuclear power in boosting the wellbeing of businesses and making energy cheap for developing countries. It would also raise effectiveness and affordability thus balancing the market prices that presently enjoy the control and exploitation of the OPEC nations (Gonzalez, 2008). Significantly, the use of other mineral resources such as coal would gain popularity because governments and industries cannot operate without other forms of energy.
Overall, the loss of oil from the society would shake society in numerous ways because oil wars only cause instability and destruction resulting to loss of life. Therefore, while the negative prospects outdo the positive consequences, the role of individuals and society remains experimentation with coal as an alternative form of energy. Shifts in power should also take a direction towards transforming lives. It begins with establishing new manufacturing industries that prevent the masses from remaining jobless after the depletion of oil deposits. Additionally, the stimulation of technology would ensure that both the state and its citizens remain economically stable in earning a living.
References
Gonzalez, P. (2008). Running Out: How Global Shortages Change the Economic Paradigm: a Statistical Yearbook, 2008. Mason, OH: Routledge.
Heinberg, R. (2005). The Party’s Over: Oil, War And The Fate Of Industrial Societies. New York, NY: SAGE.
