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Social movements and urban energy policy: Assessing contexts, agency and outcomes of remunicipalisation processes in Hamburg and Berlin

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  • Becker, Sören
  • Blanchet, Thomas
  • Kunze, Conrad

Abstract

This paper assesses the influence of social movements as actors in urban energy politics. Presenting two case studies of remunicipalisation processes in the German cities Hamburg and Berlin, a framework is developed to discuss policy contexts, the agency of these movements, as well as the policy outcome in each city. A short comparison shows that agency is based on context features such as legal frameworks and social movement and policy traditions, while policy outcomes are considered the result of agency. Contextual circumstances must be considered if utility and urban energy policies are to be successfully transferred to other settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Becker, Sören & Blanchet, Thomas & Kunze, Conrad, 2016. "Social movements and urban energy policy: Assessing contexts, agency and outcomes of remunicipalisation processes in Hamburg and Berlin," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 228-236.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:41:y:2016:i:c:p:228-236
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.02.001
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ruggiero, S. & Busch, H. & Hansen, T. & Isakovic, A., 2021. "Context and agency in urban community energy initiatives: An analysis of six case studies from the Baltic Sea Region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    4. Ringel, Marc, 2023. "Tele-Coupling Energy Efficiency Polices in Europe: Showcasing the German Governance Arrangements," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 141593, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    5. Sadik-Zada, Elkhan Richard & Gatto, Andrea, 2023. "Civic engagement and energy transition in the Nordic-Baltic Sea Region: Parametric and nonparametric inquiries," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    6. Søren Djørup & Karl Sperling & Steffen Nielsen & Poul Alborg Østergaard & Jakob Zinck Thellufsen & Peter Sorknæs & Henrik Lund & David Drysdale, 2020. "District Heating Tariffs, Economic Optimisation and Local Strategies during Radical Technological Change," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Pohlmann, Angela & Colell, Arwen, 2020. "Distributing power: Community energy movements claiming the grid in Berlin and Hamburg," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    8. Beau Warbroek & Thomas Hoppe, 2017. "Modes of Governing and Policy of Local and Regional Governments Supporting Local Low-Carbon Energy Initiatives; Exploring the Cases of the Dutch Regions of Overijssel and Fryslân," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-36, January.

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