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Neoliberal energy transitions in the South: Kenyan experiences

Newell, Peter; Phillips, Jon

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Authors

Peter Newell



Abstract

What is the relationship between the direction and form of an energy transition and the political economy within which it is embedded? This paper explores how the nature of (low carbon) energy transitions is strongly influenced by the process of neoliberalisation that shape energy policy in the South. We seek to understand emergent energy transitions and to advance their theorisation through an account of the political economy of energy transition in Kenya. In contrast to the often techno-managerial orientation of literatures on socio-technical transitions, we explore the political terrain upon which competing visions of energy futures and material interests collide and seek to accommodate one another. We develop a political economy account that emphasises the structural and disciplinary power of capital and global institutions to set the terms of transition. This expresses itself in both delimiting the autonomy of state actors and by reconfiguring domestic institutional and social power in ways that shape the distributional politics of transitions.

Citation

Newell, P., & Phillips, J. (2016). Neoliberal energy transitions in the South: Kenyan experiences. Geoforum, 74, 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2016.05.009

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 16, 2016
Publication Date Jan 1, 2016
Deposit Date Jan 17, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jan 17, 2022
Journal Geoforum
Print ISSN 0016-7185
Electronic ISSN 1872-9398
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 74
Pages 39-48
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2016.05.009
Keywords Energy, Transitions, Climate change, Kenya, Neoliberalism
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016718516301646?via%3Dihub

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