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The two prime movers of globalization: history and impact of diesel engines and gas turbines

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  • Smil, Vaclav

Abstract

Modern economic globalization would be impossible without our ability to move billions of tonnes of raw materials and finished goods among the continents and to fly at speeds approaching the speed of sound. These realities were made possible by the interaction of economic and technical factors. Much has been written about their organizational and political underpinnings (ranging from the role of multinational corporations to the history of free trade agreements), but much less on the history of the two prime movers that made these realities possible. Neither steam engines, nor gasoline-fuelled engines could have accomplished comparable feats. Diesel engines made ocean shipping the cheapest mode of long-distance transport and without gas turbines there would be no fast, inexpensive, mass-scale intercontinental travel. This paper examines the history, advances, benefits and costs of the two prime movers.

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  • Smil, Vaclav, 2007. "The two prime movers of globalization: history and impact of diesel engines and gas turbines," Journal of Global History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(3), pages 373-394, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jglhis:v:2:y:2007:i:03:p:373-394_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben R. Martin, 2016. "Twenty challenges for innovation studies," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 43(3), pages 432-450.
    2. Krupa, Joel, 2013. "Realizing truly sustainable development: A proposal to expand Aboriginal ‘price adders’ beyond Ontario electricity generation projects," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 85-87.
    3. Shahid Yusuf, 2018. "East Asian Cat or African Cat: Which One Is the Better Mouse Catcher?," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 10(1-3), pages 60-72, January.

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