Comparing energy transitions in Germany and Spain using a political economy perspective

Abstract

During the 2000s, Germany and Spain were forerunners in Europe’s energy transition. However, after the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2007 a growing divergence in the two countries’ energy policy paths can be observed. This article applies a political economy perspective to explore the reasons for this divergence. In investigating this empirical puzzle, the work identifies two main causes of the differing developments in the two countries. The first cause being that Spain was hit much harder by the financial and economic crisis and the second, that the Spanish energy transition was an elite-driven process whereas the German Energiewende was driven by large sectors of civil society. Regarding the theoretical question of how to understand the divergent developments of the countries’ energy politics, a perspective based on regulation theory and Antonio Gramsci’s political theory can help offer an understanding of the social character of energy transitions.