Analysing Energy Transitions: Combining Insights from Transition Studies and International Political Economy

Abstract

Energy transitions are understood as structural long-term transformations of the way energy needs are met. The ongoing energy transition poses significant challenges for analysis and theory building. It is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and complexity, a key role for public policy, strong vested interests and lock-in, simultaneous changes of technologies, organizations and institutional structures, and a variety of possible transition pathways. This chapter discusses how insights from two so far disconnected strands of literature, transition studies and international political economy, can be mobilized for addressing these challenges when studying energy transitions. The chapter also briefly introduces the other chapters in this section.