Re.: "The 2010 episode revealed fundamental constraints on attempts to use raw materials as geopolitical weapons."
The contemporary "fundamental constraints" work much wider than just raw materials or any other single parameter. The entire human activity is subject to such constraints lately. No single part of humanity, no matter how relatively better developed cannot restrict the systemic movement to equilibrium (or to average, or to single temp. inside the body,..whatever one prefers). Mostly because the system in most of its activities became closed. And no outsized influence from some part of the humanity (like GB triggered opium wars in China, for example) cannot avoid very strong ripples through ALL components of the system. Including the parts initiating such disturbancies.
Re.: "The 2010 episode revealed fundamental constraints on attempts to use raw materials as geopolitical weapons."
The contemporary "fundamental constraints" work much wider than just raw materials or any other single parameter. The entire human activity is subject to such constraints lately. No single part of humanity, no matter how relatively better developed cannot restrict the systemic movement to equilibrium (or to average, or to single temp. inside the body,..whatever one prefers). Mostly because the system in most of its activities became closed. And no outsized influence from some part of the humanity (like GB triggered opium wars in China, for example) cannot avoid very strong ripples through ALL components of the system. Including the parts initiating such disturbancies.