Deep entanglements: history, space and (energy) struggle in the German Energiewende

Paul, F. C. (2018) Deep entanglements: history, space and (energy) struggle in the German Energiewende. Geoforum, 91, pp. 1-9. (doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2018.02.017)

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Abstract

This paper contributes to recent debates in energy geography, especially to energy transition research and literature, by developing a critical and empirically grounded understanding of energy transitions as expressions of contentious socio-spatial politics, past and present. The paper argues that historical struggles and contentious political practices around energy, so called energy struggles, continue to inform the ongoing and dynamic socio-spatial politics of energy transitions today and often manifest themselves in transition narratives. This analysis is supported by qualitative empirical materials derived from recent fieldwork in Berlin, Germany, which was conducted within the broader left-green movement for a socio-ecological and democratic German Energiewende. A historicisation of contentious politics and energy struggles facilitates an empirically robust framing of energy transition projects as dynamic, multi-actor, and more than eco-technical processes. The paper’s contribution to energy geographies is threefold; firstly, utilising an empirically robust and historically sensitive analysis of the German Energiewende, the paper explores the deep entanglements of history, space and struggle in energy transitions. Secondly, the paper emphasises the need to understand energy transitions as constituted by energy struggles and contentious politics, past and present. Thirdly, the paper examines emergent spaces of energy democracy as part of the Energiewende and explores recent energy democracy demands as a spatial politics of energy transitions.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Paul, Dr Franziska
Authors: Paul, F. C.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
Journal Name:Geoforum
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0016-7185
ISSN (Online):1872-9398
Published Online:21 February 2018

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