Energy Politics: Governing Transition in an Uncertain World

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing turmoil on international energy markets have underlined the many uncertainties and challenges facing the global energy transition. Many European countries have endeavoured to reduce energy consumption given a fear of supply shortage. Concerns about energy security have moved to the forefront. Societies are facing energy-driven inflation. New investments in fossil fuel production in 2022 are challenging a speedy transition towards clean energy. This Section explores the complex entanglement of the politics of energy transitions and the interface of energy systems and societies. It seeks to address general issues such as: the interplay between integration and fragmentation in energy politics, changing narratives in energy policy, continuity and change in energy politics, or legitimacy and acceptance of disruptive policy and technological innovations. Section Chairs envisage the following Panels: 1 The EU’s energy policy response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine 2 Just Transition from Coal 3 Sustaining and updating energy transitions in Europe in the face of new goals and challenges 4 Inclusivity, acceptance and public legitimacy in energy transition decision-making 5 Policies to alleviate energy poverty in times of crisis 6 Energy turbulence 7 Governing Green Energy 8 Oil and gas companies in the energy transition Alongside the listed Panels, this Section welcomes novel theoretical contributions, empirical observations, meta-analyses or extended literature reviews. It invites contributions that combine general themes with specific issue areas. These include (but are not limited to) the following: General themes: ▪️ Energy politics (actors, interests, institutions, governance and regulation) ▪️ Sociology and psychology of energy (energy-related collective and individual behaviour patterns and practices) ▪️ Justice, equity and democracy (participation, inclusion, acceptance, opposition) ▪️ Energy and culture (ideas, discourses, narratives) ▪️ Global energy governance (norms, rules, regimes, clubs) Specific issue areas: ▪️ Energy transition and industrial policy (including the governance of emerging energy technologies and value chains) ▪️ Energy politics and security in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ▪️ Political feasibility of energy transitions ▪️ Fossil fuels' phase-out ▪️ Low-carbon transport and new transport paradigms ▪️ Sector coupling, economy-wide electrification ▪️ Digitalization of energy (smart technologies, AI, cybersecurity) ▪️ Energy markets and energy trade ▪️ Energy poverty ▪️ Energy efficiency The Section is proposed by the ECPR Research Network on Energy Politics, Policy, and Governance. The Network also organizes and endorses the Section Towards carbon neutrality: Decarbonization, energy transition and the challenges of climate action. We suggest contributions bordering energy and climate fields are directed primarily there.