Great piece! But it assumes one economy where everyone gets equal access to oil. If that were true, as oil ran out, everyone would adjust their lifestyles to match. Because it's not true we'll have an increase in war as those with access take advantage of others who don't (who then go to war).

This is my reading of WWII. Although oil was discovered in the Middle East at the start of the war, it wasn't until after it, that cheap oil flooded the market. For all we know, it is most of the reason for 70 years of peace.

The Ukraine war is about oil. Unfortunately, the reasons are complex, as they were in WWII. The best I can simplify is the consumers of oil expect the producers of oil to reduce their prices whenever the consumer tells them too (lately, because it's harming the planet). The fundamental question is who gets the better standard of living? The producer or consumer?

When you put your stories in this context recent current events make more sense. And the future, scary as can be.