Thea Riofrancos
@triofrancos.bsky.social
Political Scientist, Providence College
Strategic Co-Director, Climate and Community Institute
Author / Resource Radicals (Duke UP 2020)
Co-Author / A Planet to Win (Verso 2019)
Forthcoming / Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism (WW Norton)
Strategic Co-Director, Climate and Community Institute
Author / Resource Radicals (Duke UP 2020)
Co-Author / A Planet to Win (Verso 2019)
Forthcoming / Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism (WW Norton)
Pinned
Why are minerals so central to geopolitics? How green are electric cars? Why is anti-mining protest increasing? Can the inequalities of the global economy be transformed?
I tackle these topics in my book EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
👀 September 2025 @wwnorton.bsky.social
I tackle these topics in my book EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
👀 September 2025 @wwnorton.bsky.social
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Finally finished this amazing book by @triofrancos.bsky.social. An absolute must read for anyone who cares about “green” exctractivism and how we might possibly overcome it through global solidarity – and of course relentless trans-local organising!
January 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Finally finished this amazing book by @triofrancos.bsky.social. An absolute must read for anyone who cares about “green” exctractivism and how we might possibly overcome it through global solidarity – and of course relentless trans-local organising!
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
My new post on this:
Has the Left Given Up on Climate Justice?
Yes, it's a provocation. But serious. Both Malm and @triofrancos.bsky.social see a left in denial.
wenstephenson.substack.com/p/has-the-le...
Has the Left Given Up on Climate Justice?
Yes, it's a provocation. But serious. Both Malm and @triofrancos.bsky.social see a left in denial.
wenstephenson.substack.com/p/has-the-le...
Has the Left Given Up on Climate Justice?
Excerpts from the live event with Andreas Malm and Thea Riofrancos on the left and the climate emergency.
wenstephenson.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:58 PM
My new post on this:
Has the Left Given Up on Climate Justice?
Yes, it's a provocation. But serious. Both Malm and @triofrancos.bsky.social see a left in denial.
wenstephenson.substack.com/p/has-the-le...
Has the Left Given Up on Climate Justice?
Yes, it's a provocation. But serious. Both Malm and @triofrancos.bsky.social see a left in denial.
wenstephenson.substack.com/p/has-the-le...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
The world is rightly outraged by the illegality of Trump’s invasion of Venezuela.
But an invasion motivated by converting the world’s largest oil reserves into CO₂ emissions is not just a crime against international law - it’s an unconscionable and sadistic assault against our entire planet.
But an invasion motivated by converting the world’s largest oil reserves into CO₂ emissions is not just a crime against international law - it’s an unconscionable and sadistic assault against our entire planet.
January 5, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The world is rightly outraged by the illegality of Trump’s invasion of Venezuela.
But an invasion motivated by converting the world’s largest oil reserves into CO₂ emissions is not just a crime against international law - it’s an unconscionable and sadistic assault against our entire planet.
But an invasion motivated by converting the world’s largest oil reserves into CO₂ emissions is not just a crime against international law - it’s an unconscionable and sadistic assault against our entire planet.
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
New at @thenation.com: excerpts from my conversation with Andreas Malm & @triofrancos.bsky.social, co-sponsored by @haymarketbooks.org & @versobooks.bsky.social
It's 2026. This is the kind of discussion the left needs to be having about climate catastrophe.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
It's 2026. This is the kind of discussion the left needs to be having about climate catastrophe.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
What Justice on a Burning Planet?
Andreas Malm and Thea Riofrancos joined The Nation’s Wen Stephenson in an urgent conversation about the left and the climate emergency.
www.thenation.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:05 PM
New at @thenation.com: excerpts from my conversation with Andreas Malm & @triofrancos.bsky.social, co-sponsored by @haymarketbooks.org & @versobooks.bsky.social
It's 2026. This is the kind of discussion the left needs to be having about climate catastrophe.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
It's 2026. This is the kind of discussion the left needs to be having about climate catastrophe.
www.thenation.com/article/envi...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Given supply dynamics and trajectories, I think control of Venezuela's actual oil is less relevant than the message sent to other countries hosting US oil majors. If national govts threaten their operations by demanding remediation/payment of liabilities, they now have to contemplate invasion.
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Given supply dynamics and trajectories, I think control of Venezuela's actual oil is less relevant than the message sent to other countries hosting US oil majors. If national govts threaten their operations by demanding remediation/payment of liabilities, they now have to contemplate invasion.
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
"We're in the oil business" - Trump
January 3, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"We're in the oil business" - Trump
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
A great day overall for fossil capital. Trump is less worried about who exactly will lead the Venezuelan government, even saying Machado won’t have the respect to govern Venezuela. What matters is that US oil companies get to drill and sell oil to other countries too.
January 3, 2026 at 5:32 PM
A great day overall for fossil capital. Trump is less worried about who exactly will lead the Venezuelan government, even saying Machado won’t have the respect to govern Venezuela. What matters is that US oil companies get to drill and sell oil to other countries too.
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
just two weeks ago
January 3, 2026 at 5:32 PM
just two weeks ago
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger says what Trump is describing in Venezuela is an "American occupation."
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Veteran New York Times national security reporter David Sanger says what Trump is describing in Venezuela is an "American occupation."
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
The nobel peace prize committee has to wear this
At 7:10 or so the winner of the 2025 Nobel peace prize praises Tr*mp & condones extralegal killings in service of regime change. At 14:15 she tells Biz Forum that Venezuela will be the “energy hub of the Americas,” & the “new global frontier of innovation and wealth creation.”
If you want to know what the plan is, traitorous stooge Machado told the America Business Forum back in November: privatizing oil to the tune of $1.7 trillion. She said the same thing at a Saudi forum. It’s remarkable how little pretense there is. youtu.be/l2J2JtO8R9Q?...
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
The nobel peace prize committee has to wear this
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
The United States is a rogue actor throwing the world into disarray. It hosts war criminal Netanyahu, sanctions ICC and European officials, launches strikes around the world, and now kidnaps foreign leaders.
Western allies need to stop it if they truly believe in human rights and international law.
Western allies need to stop it if they truly believe in human rights and international law.
January 3, 2026 at 2:04 PM
The United States is a rogue actor throwing the world into disarray. It hosts war criminal Netanyahu, sanctions ICC and European officials, launches strikes around the world, and now kidnaps foreign leaders.
Western allies need to stop it if they truly believe in human rights and international law.
Western allies need to stop it if they truly believe in human rights and international law.
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
It's a good book!
Why are minerals so central to geopolitics? How green are electric cars? Why is anti-mining protest increasing? Can the inequalities of the global economy be transformed?
I tackle these topics in my book EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
👀 September 2025 @wwnorton.bsky.social
I tackle these topics in my book EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
👀 September 2025 @wwnorton.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
It's a good book!
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Extraction, by the brilliant @triofrancos.bsky.social, is my book of the year. Mining for the green transition is… a minefield of contradictions. Thea reveals their contours, layer by layer, w stories & political economy. The journey’s revelatory. To navigate the polycrisis, read this book.
December 31, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Extraction, by the brilliant @triofrancos.bsky.social, is my book of the year. Mining for the green transition is… a minefield of contradictions. Thea reveals their contours, layer by layer, w stories & political economy. The journey’s revelatory. To navigate the polycrisis, read this book.
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
To read
"Frontier names a duality where the place is important but the people are unimportant"
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Extractive Frontiers: An Interview With Thea Riofrancos • Protean Magazine
In this extensive, wide ranging interview, Laleh Khalili speaks with Thea Riofrancos about her new book Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, the political economy of lithium mining, the poss...
proteanmag.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:45 PM
To read
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
two of my faves 🥹
"Frontier names a duality where the place is important but the people are unimportant"
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Extractive Frontiers: An Interview With Thea Riofrancos • Protean Magazine
In this extensive, wide ranging interview, Laleh Khalili speaks with Thea Riofrancos about her new book Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, the political economy of lithium mining, the poss...
proteanmag.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:56 AM
two of my faves 🥹
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Thread of my personal "top stuff" from 2025. 🧵
🎧 Top podcast: @thedigradio.bsky.social. I'd recommend the episode on "Chicago's Left Experiment" to anyone interested in Chicago politics. Also had multiple good episodes on Zohran's win in New York.
thedigradio.com/podcast/chic...
🎧 Top podcast: @thedigradio.bsky.social. I'd recommend the episode on "Chicago's Left Experiment" to anyone interested in Chicago politics. Also had multiple good episodes on Zohran's win in New York.
thedigradio.com/podcast/chic...
Chicago’s Left Experiment
Featuring Alex Han, Asha Ransby-Sporn, and Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor on Chicago’s left political experiment. In the wake of Zohran’s remarkable victory in New York, organizers all over the country ar...
thedigradio.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Thread of my personal "top stuff" from 2025. 🧵
🎧 Top podcast: @thedigradio.bsky.social. I'd recommend the episode on "Chicago's Left Experiment" to anyone interested in Chicago politics. Also had multiple good episodes on Zohran's win in New York.
thedigradio.com/podcast/chic...
🎧 Top podcast: @thedigradio.bsky.social. I'd recommend the episode on "Chicago's Left Experiment" to anyone interested in Chicago politics. Also had multiple good episodes on Zohran's win in New York.
thedigradio.com/podcast/chic...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Andrew Epstein and a team of strategists, speechwriters, designers, filmmakers wrote a big love letter to NYC and inoculated voters against a big money attack campaign. A behind the scenes look at masterful comms operation by guest host @micahuetricht.bsky.social. www.thedigradio.com/podcast/zohr...
Zohran’s Message w/ Andrew Epstein
Featuring Andrew Epstein on the Zohran campaign’s savvy, funny, sharp, disciplined, and moving comms operation. As one hundred thousand volunteers knocked three million doors, Andrew and a team of str...
www.thedigradio.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Andrew Epstein and a team of strategists, speechwriters, designers, filmmakers wrote a big love letter to NYC and inoculated voters against a big money attack campaign. A behind the scenes look at masterful comms operation by guest host @micahuetricht.bsky.social. www.thedigradio.com/podcast/zohr...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Highly recommend. Doug Henwood interviews Thea Riofrancos and Alyssa Battistoni on Lithium and Nature.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
December 25, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Highly recommend. Doug Henwood interviews Thea Riofrancos and Alyssa Battistoni on Lithium and Nature.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
Another good (open access) piece from London Review of International Law —- on nodules, frontiers, and Rosa. 🌊⛏️
academic.oup.com/lril/advance...
academic.oup.com/lril/advance...
December 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Another good (open access) piece from London Review of International Law —- on nodules, frontiers, and Rosa. 🌊⛏️
academic.oup.com/lril/advance...
academic.oup.com/lril/advance...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
A personal list of some of the best climate books of 2025,
from @alybatt.bsky.social @triofrancos.bsky.social @doctorvive.bsky.social @billmckibben.bsky.social @denisesrobbins.bsky.social @wimcarton.bsky.social @peterbrannen.bsky.social and more...
from @alybatt.bsky.social @triofrancos.bsky.social @doctorvive.bsky.social @billmckibben.bsky.social @denisesrobbins.bsky.social @wimcarton.bsky.social @peterbrannen.bsky.social and more...
Climate Books of 2025
A few shimmering selections on humanity and our home
hillheat.news
December 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A personal list of some of the best climate books of 2025,
from @alybatt.bsky.social @triofrancos.bsky.social @doctorvive.bsky.social @billmckibben.bsky.social @denisesrobbins.bsky.social @wimcarton.bsky.social @peterbrannen.bsky.social and more...
from @alybatt.bsky.social @triofrancos.bsky.social @doctorvive.bsky.social @billmckibben.bsky.social @denisesrobbins.bsky.social @wimcarton.bsky.social @peterbrannen.bsky.social and more...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
"Frontier names a duality where the place is important but the people are unimportant"
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Extractive Frontiers: An Interview With Thea Riofrancos • Protean Magazine
In this extensive, wide ranging interview, Laleh Khalili speaks with Thea Riofrancos about her new book Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, the political economy of lithium mining, the poss...
proteanmag.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"Frontier names a duality where the place is important but the people are unimportant"
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Two brilliant scholars @triofrancos.bsky.social@lalehkhalili.bsky.social in conversation, highly recommended!
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
It was an honor to be interviewed in-depth by @lalehkhalili.bsky.social @proteanmag.com
A key theme: how to analyze “extractive frontiers” from a world-systemic perspective attentive to both the structures of colonialism and capitalism—and to socio-ecological struggle proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
A key theme: how to analyze “extractive frontiers” from a world-systemic perspective attentive to both the structures of colonialism and capitalism—and to socio-ecological struggle proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
December 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
It was an honor to be interviewed in-depth by @lalehkhalili.bsky.social @proteanmag.com
A key theme: how to analyze “extractive frontiers” from a world-systemic perspective attentive to both the structures of colonialism and capitalism—and to socio-ecological struggle proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
A key theme: how to analyze “extractive frontiers” from a world-systemic perspective attentive to both the structures of colonialism and capitalism—and to socio-ecological struggle proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
In this wide-ranging interview, Laleh Khalili (@lalehkhalili.bsky.social) speaks with Thea Riofrancos (@triofrancos.bsky.social) about her new book, "Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism"—on lithium mining, prospects for a just climate transition, and more.
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Extractive Frontiers: An Interview With Thea Riofrancos • Protean Magazine
In this extensive, wide ranging interview, Laleh Khalili speaks with Thea Riofrancos about her new book Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, the political economy of lithium mining, the poss...
proteanmag.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
In this wide-ranging interview, Laleh Khalili (@lalehkhalili.bsky.social) speaks with Thea Riofrancos (@triofrancos.bsky.social) about her new book, "Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism"—on lithium mining, prospects for a just climate transition, and more.
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
proteanmag.com/2025/12/22/e...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
New Dig ep is honest, in-depth conversation on how Mamdani administration will do governance as @socialists.nyc and allied movements build power on the ground: opportunities, constraints, contradictions that’ll have big implications for entire socialist project. www.thedigradio.com/podcast/nyc-...
December 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
New Dig ep is honest, in-depth conversation on how Mamdani administration will do governance as @socialists.nyc and allied movements build power on the ground: opportunities, constraints, contradictions that’ll have big implications for entire socialist project. www.thedigradio.com/podcast/nyc-...
Reposted by Thea Riofrancos
fresh audio product:
• Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social , author of Extraction, on the complexities of lithium
• Alyssa Battistoni @alybatt.bsky.social, author of Free Gifts, on the weird relationship between capitalism and Nature
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
• Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social , author of Extraction, on the complexities of lithium
• Alyssa Battistoni @alybatt.bsky.social, author of Free Gifts, on the weird relationship between capitalism and Nature
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
December 19, 2025 at 9:28 PM
fresh audio product:
• Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social , author of Extraction, on the complexities of lithium
• Alyssa Battistoni @alybatt.bsky.social, author of Free Gifts, on the weird relationship between capitalism and Nature
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...
• Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social , author of Extraction, on the complexities of lithium
• Alyssa Battistoni @alybatt.bsky.social, author of Free Gifts, on the weird relationship between capitalism and Nature
www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html#S...