The globalizing world is increasingly confronting a new category of security issues related to resource availability. The resource environment contains both traditional categories, such as energy, foodstuffs, and water, as well as new technologically related resources, such as rare earth minerals. The essays in this volume emphasize both the uniqueness and the magnitude of these new challenges, while simultaneously acknowledging that cooperation and competition in response to these security concerns occur within the context of both the historical and contemporary international power configurations. Moreover, these challenges are of a global nature and will require global perspectives, global thinking, and innovative global solutions. Krishna-Hensel brings together a wide range of topics focusing on critical resource availability impacting upon global security and the geopolitical ramifications of resource competition. The volume addresses the development of strategic thinking on these issues and underscores the increasing awareness that this is a critical area of concern in the twenty-first century global landscape.