Hormuz, Ulrich Beck, and the lesser evil: can globalization be made less violent?

News basis

The latest Hormuz reports are not just another episode in a regional conflict. They show a global system under stress. Al Jazeera reports that the US defence chief says the blockade of Iran can be sustained indefinitely, while Iran rejects US claims that ships are freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reports a similar US line from Pete Hegseth. AP adds the wider regional picture: Houthi clashes, strikes linked to Saudi energy infrastructure, and oil spills near Iran and Oman. Sky News reports Iran’s position that ships cannot safely transit the strait without Iranian permission and supervision.

The reason this matters globally is not mysterious. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the central energy chokepoints of the world economy. When a narrow sea lane becomes the site of military coercion, the costs do not stay local. They travel through energy prices, shipping insurance, food costs, inflation, and civilian vulnerability far from the battlefield.