Geopolitics of Rare Earths

Rare earths are the invisible driving forces of our time: without them, there would be no wind turbines, no smartphones, no electric cars-and no modern defense technology. They are the backbone of the digital and green transformation. At the same time, they are the strategic bottleneck of global industry. That's because over 90% of their processing takes place in just one country: China. This book tells the story of a geopolitical upheaval. It shows how inconspicuous metals have become a pawn in international power politics - and why they are redefining the balance of power between states, industries, and technologies. With scientific precision and political foresight, Geopolitics of Rare Earths analyzes the dependencies of the Western world, China's role as a raw materials superpower, the challenges of sustainable supply chains, and the search for strategic resilience. The book covers everything from geological basics and historical developments to current security strategies and international alliances. It highlights recycling potential, new extraction technologies, and the race for global resources between protectionism and cooperation. Bremen University Press has published over 4,800 specialist books in various languages since 2005.