This is a very interesting video of a lecture by Timothy Mitchell about the history of the collusive relationship between western imperial governments (UK and USA) and oil companies since the early 20th Century, and how it’s undermined working class power and democracy.  The lecture also looks forward to the prospect that the post-oil age which we will soon enter will compel the governments and corporations to become properly dependent on the democratic consent of the people. Timothy Mitchell’s lecture is based on his book, Carbon Democracy. There’s also a downloadable summary of Carbon Democracy.