Guest Editors
Prof. Dr. Cosimo Magazzino
Email: cosimo.magazzino@uniroma3.it
Affiliation: Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
Homepage:
Research Interests: environmental economics, climate change, sustainability, circular economy
Dr. Bilal Hussain
Email: bilalhussain1410@gmail.com
Affiliation: Department of Economics, Government College University Faisalabad, Kotwali Rd, Gurunanakpura, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
Homepage:
Research Interests: environmental economics, climate change, sustainability, circular economy
Summary
The 21st century has brought heightened awareness of climate change, rising energy demand, and the complex geopolitics of natural resource management. The responsible use of minerals and fossil fuels now shapes national policy, economic stability, and international relations. Extractive industries face mounting pressures from resource scarcity, environmental concerns, and societal expectations, driving innovation and sustainable management. At the same time, geopolitical competition over access and control of resources has intensified, fueling resource diplomacy and conflict.
The “resource curse” highlights how mismanaged resource wealth can undermine governance, foster corruption, and destabilize economies. In response, initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) promote accountability and equitable distribution of benefits. Energy security—ensuring reliable supply while transitioning to cleaner sources—has become central to global strategy, pushing nations to diversify portfolios and mitigate geopolitical risks.
Resource scarcity often exacerbates territorial disputes, particularly in conflict-prone regions. International frameworks like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide guidance for balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social equity, helping governments navigate the intertwined challenges of resource management and global security. This Special Issue invites academics, researchers, policymakers, and specialists to analyze, explore, and discuss these complicated dynamics. To grasp the complex relationships between geopolitics, resource scarcity, and economic policies, it offers policy recommendations and frameworks for resource-rich nations and the global community.
This Special Issue aims to explore the intricate relationships between geopolitics, resource scarcity, and energy transition, particularly in the context of urban and regional development. It seeks to investigate how global resource dynamics and geopolitical shifts influence economic landscapes, energy transition, and regional planning. The issue invites contributions that provide theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented insights into the ways in which resource-related challenges and opportunities are reshaping cities, regions, and economic spaces.
Suggested topics include (but are not limited to):
• Examine how resource scarcity and geopolitical strategies impact urban and regional development, with a focus on spatial disparities, resource allocation, and infrastructure planning.
• Analyze the role of economic geography in understanding the spatial implications of resource nationalism and how such policies affect regional economic stability and global trade networks.
• Investigate the intersection of resource scarcity, geopolitics, and sustainable urban planning, exploring how cities and regions adapt to shifting resource availability and environmental constraints.
• Explore the implications of the global energy transition on spatial economies, focusing on how renewable energy policies and technologies influence regional development and spatial inequalities.
• Discuss the impact of climate change on resource distribution, urban resilience, and regional planning, providing insights into how spatial policies can mitigate risks and enhance sustainable development.
• Evaluate governance frameworks and spatial policies aimed at improving transparency, resource management, and equitable development in resource-rich regions, considering their implications for regional planning and economic geography.
Keywords
energy engineering, sustainable energy systems, resource scarcity and management, geopolitics of energy, energy transition technologies, urban and regional energy planning, renewable energy integration, energy security and policy, circular economy in energy systems, infrastructure and spatial energy development
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