Geodestinies

Coined by author and petroleum geologist Walter Youngquist, the concept of geodestinies refers to the ways in which the happenstance distribution of Earth's natural resources largely determines our collective futures. From the Preface of Youngquist's book GeoDestinies:
The destinies of all nations and all people are in many ways bound up with the mineral and energy mineral resources of the Earth. Events of the geologic past have richly endowed some nations with valuable Earth resources, whereas others have very few. The result is markedly different destinies for different nations. How Earth resources have affected the peoples of the past, how they influence our lives now, and how they will determine our futures is the study of .
Youngquist is often referenced in discussions of peak oil, and indeed he covers the subject of energy resources at great length. Not to be overlooked, however, are topsoil and water, which Youngquist reminds us are most essential to mankind's survival.
For a contemporary example of geodestinies at work, see Richard Heinberg's article "Middle East at a Crossroads," which explains the current Middle-East conflicts and their not-so-obvious causes in terms of geological wealth.

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