Conflicted Energy Transition—Conception of a Theoretical Framework for Its Investigation

Olaf Kühne, Debi Parush, Deborah Shmueli and Corinna Jenal
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Olaf Kühne: Department of Geosciences, Tuebingen University, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Debi Parush: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Deborah Shmueli: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Corinna Jenal: Department of Geosciences, Tuebingen University, 72074 Tübingen, Germany

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Energy transition plays a central role in efforts to reduce anthropogenic global warming. However, energy transition involves physical manifestations, for example in the form of wind turbines, photovoltaic plants, and power lines, which trigger resistance, especially among those who live in the vicinity of the (planned) plants. The reasons for this resistance are complex, as they relate to residents’ emotional ties and/or stereotypical common-sense expectations of landscape. The complexity of landscape conflicts in general, and energy transition-related conflicts in particular, makes it difficult to capture the intricacy of the subject matter by means of a single theoretical perspective. To address this difficulty, a neopragmatic approach of identifying and combining appropriate theoretical perspectives is utilized to develop an analytic framework for understanding these conflicts. To this end, we draw on Dahrendorf’s conflict theory and the framing approach. Both have high complementary explanatory potential and empirical applicability, with the framing approach broadening the theoretical prism to include micro-individuals and groups to Dahrendorf’s meso-social perspective.

Keywords: energy transition; landscape; neopragmatism; neopragmatic landscape theory; conflict theory; framing approach; Dahrendorf (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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