What phenomenon/situation would thwart the development of electronics by a society?

I'm interested in exploring an advanced society where electronic technology and infrastructure were not developed. What plausible natural phenomenon or context would prevent, or at least strongly discourage, the widespread utilization of electrical energy?

Some possible ideas that come to my mind are disruptive magnetic fields or frequent geomagnetic storms. I'm sure there are many other possibilities as well, perhaps including aquatic civilization or inaccessibility of suitable mineral resources.

Bonus points for considering:

1. Technological alternatives that might emerge more prominently in the electrical void (e.g., fluidics)
2. The phenomenon's other potential impacts on humanoid life

For reference, see these two semi-related questions:

• What would be the state of society without semiconductors?
• What kind of event could stop electricity?

Edit: In response to concerns about broadness, I'm happy to provide more structure to guide answers. Ideally, let's imagine a terrestrial society that develops similarly to human civilization through the dawn of electricity. Needless to say, some complications may arise from the phenomenon that curtails electrical technology. While I think this question could help other related questions, the "best" answer will be one that yields a society most similar, at least temporarily, to 19th Century Europe.

posted almost 9 years ago

ZeroFlux‭

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