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The Granular State

Why the World’s Most Boring Resource Is Testing Modern Governance

Ken Rutkowski's avatar
Ken Rutkowski
Mar 13, 2026
∙ Paid

As the world pours more of itself into concrete infrastructure, the invisible foundation of modern life is coming under unusual strain. In the widening gap between rising demand and the localized depletion of usable sand, a larger political story is emerging. How a nation governs its most basic building material, such as sand, can reveal more about the …

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