Energy Infrastructures and Political Spatialities: the case of the North Sea

This paper critically examines the impact of energy infrastructures on the construction and competition of political spatialities, challenging the prevalent narratives in regional infrastructure literature. While existing studies often portray the creation of political spatialities as a straightforward consequence of infrastructural development, we argue that this perspective overlooks the complex processes underpinning this phenomenon. Central to our argument is the concept of 'problematization,' a mechanism frequently understated in current discourse. We assert that political spatialities are not merely a byproduct of infrastructure but emerge from a dynamic process of problematization, involving both the envisioning of future possibilities and the negotiation of various actors' interests. This theoretical pivot introduces the notion that future imaginaries, encompassing both desired and undesired outcomes as described by Aradau, play a crucial role in problematization. These imaginaries act as a focal point, rallying diverse actors around shared concerns, thereby re-humanizing and re-politicizing infrastructural debates. This approach directly challenges the implicit agency arguments found in Actor-Network Theory (ANT), emphasizing that it is the communities engaging in problematization who are the true agents, not the infrastructures themselves. Our analysis then applies this framework to the realm of maritime spaces, with a particular focus on the North Sea as an energy infrastructure region. Here, we observe how energy infrastructures not only coexist with but also compete with other types of infrastructural regions. This competition highlights the multiplicity and complexity of political spatialities, moving away from a singular, unified perspective. The empirical section of our study examines three episodes, each underlining a different aspect of the North Sea's political spatiality. First, we explore shipping infrastructures, showing how concerns about marine safety and pollution have led to specific spatial delineations and institutional responses. Secondly, the examination of fishing infrastructures reveals the tensions around overfishing and marine protection, resulting in ecosystem-based management and conservation zones. Finally, we delve into energy infrastructures, highlighting their role in shaping and contesting the region's political identity. Our conclusion brings these strands together, discussing how the different 'North Seas' interact and compete. We advocate for the application of our model beyond maritime contexts, suggesting its relevance in understanding the creation and competition of infrastructure spaces at various scales, including global perspectives. This paper contributes to the re-politicization of infrastructural studies, emphasizing the active role of problematizing communities and challenging the deterministic views of infrastructure as an implicit agent of spatial and political change.