The Party is Over by Edwin L. Drake - Article Example

Another oil pioneer that is credited for his contribution to the oil expansion is French engineer J.J. Etienne Lenoir who with his discovery of first world internal combustion engine which depended much on gasoline. Though it took almost 40 years to have clear automobile and interdependency of oil and industries, Lenoir certainly paved the way for oil production with his innovation of internal engine combustion. In 1990, kerosene sky-rocketed the oil production due to the domestic usage of lighting and cooking, which later on the supply was affected by the invention of electric bulbs.

After World War I, city construction in Europe paved the way for automobiles which later on increased oil production. Though most of the war automobiles used fuel which was largely supplied by the US, which led to the systemization of oil production, refining, and shipping. Oil importance was vividly seen during this time which contributed much to the US economic growth. The US became the world superpower nation due to the wealth accumulated during the year 1950 to 1965 which doubled again from the year 1965 to 1980.

Though an oil price has been fluctuating, oil and its products have been a valuable resource that contributed much to the automakers together with oil companies in America. Though a link between auto industries and oil companies grew fast which saw more car releases, other economic aspects also had a positive impact on the country which made America depend heavily on oil production to date.Due to it's heavily dependent on oil, America oil production started to decline which has made the US looking for oil out of America.

The oil revolution has not only changed American's life but the world as a whole. US strike a deal of 50/50 split with Saudi Arabia which made the US which assured the US of more oil while Britain strike deal with Iran which later on was nationalized during the nationalism in Iran. Taking a good look at the trend of economic development around the world, especially in oil-producing countries, it is evidenced that these countries experienced a certain amount of conflicts. Apart from the conflicts, the US has now become the largest oil user, which cannot even meet the domestic demand.

"Importation of oil to the US has been increasing since 1970 which the US has to make up for its shortfall from domestic production." (Richard Heinberg, The Party is Over, 2nd Edition 2005). The US being the well-explored country has not managed to meet its domestic demand for oil. Being an industrial country, oil production has to be high as well, the notion that has forced the US to look for an alternative in filling the gap of the energy required. In his book, Richard Heinberg described some of the alternative energy sources like solar energy and atomic energy that could at least help in meeting the demand.

However, efforts to improve efficiency are subject to diminishing returns, and so eventually a point will be reached where reduced energy availability will translate to reduced economic activity.According to Richard Heinberg, the US is the world's largest energy consumer, the center of the global industrial empire and, and the holder of the most powerful store of weaponry in world history. This might play a vital role in shaping the geopolitics of the new century.