Managing Scarcity

the oil industry, alternative energy & the resource scarcity debate of the “long 1970s.”

Managing Scarcity and Sustainability is a project based at Maastricht University and funded by the NWO (Dutch Research Council) under the Social Sciences and Humanities Vici beurs, VI.C.191.067.

Our project formally concludes August 14, 2026. However, we will continue to conduct research on the history of oil, alternative energy, and environmental governance. So please keep an eye on our Publications page, which should remain relatively up-to-date.

Three forms of energy used to provide electricity (coal, solar, and wind – with the cooling tower of a coal-fired power plant gesturing to nuclear energy as well) visible from a colliery in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet. Photo by Cyrus Mody.