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Global energy governance: a review and research agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Thijs Van de Graaf

    (Department of Political Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium)

  • Jeff Colgan

    (Department of Political Science and Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA)

Abstract

Over the past few years, global energy governance (GEG) has emerged as a major new field of enquiry in international studies. Scholars engaged in this field seek to understand how the energy sector is governed at the global level, by whom and with what consequences. By focusing on governance, they broaden and enrich the geopolitical and hard-nosed security perspectives that have long been and still are, the dominant perspectives through which energy is analysed. Though still a nascent field, the literature on GEG is thriving and continues to attract the attention of a growing number of researchers. This article reviews the GEG literature as it has developed over the past 10 years. Our aim is to highlight both the progress and limitations of the field and to identify some opportunities for future research. The article proceeds as follows. First, it traces the origins of the GEG literature (section “Origins and roots of GEG research”). The subsequent sections deal with the two topics that have received the most attention in the GEG literature: Why does energy need global governance (section “The goals and rationale of global energy governance”)? And, who governs energy (section “Mapping the global energy architecture”)? We then address a third question that has received far less attention: How well or poor is energy governed (section “Evaluating global energy governance”)? In our conclusions (section “Conclusions and outlook”), we reflect on the current state of GEG, review recent trends and innovations and identify some questions that warrant future consideration by scholars. This article is published as part of a thematic collection on global governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Thijs Van de Graaf & Jeff Colgan, 2016. "Global energy governance: a review and research agenda," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 2(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:2:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1057_palcomms.2015.47
    DOI: 10.1057/palcomms.2015.47
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    Cited by:

    1. Flávia Guerra & Yasemin Atalay, 2022. "The Energy Transition and the Changing Nature of Governance: Analyzing Evidence from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 65(1), pages 54-58, March.
    2. Zaman, Rafia & Brudermann, Thomas, 2018. "Energy governance in the context of energy service security: A qualitative assessment of the electricity system in Bangladesh," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 443-456.
    3. Escribano, Gonzalo & Paredes-Gazquez, Juandiego & San-Martín, Enrique, 2020. "The European Union and the good governance of energy resources: Practicing what it preaches?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. Mathieu Blondeel & Jeff Colgan & Thijs Van deGraaf, 2019. "What Drives Norm Success? Evidence from Anti–Fossil FuelCampaigns," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 19(4), pages 63-84, November.
    5. Flavio R. Arroyo M. & Luis J. Miguel, 2020. "The Role of Renewable Energies for the Sustainable Energy Governance and Environmental Policies for the Mitigation of Climate Change in Ecuador," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Vikraman R & Shulagna Sarkar & Vishnukumar K & Selvarasu A, 2021. "Leading Sustainable CSR Efforts: A Case of Sneha Opportunity School by NLCIL," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 14(1), pages 110-125, June.
    7. Guo, Yue & Yang, Yu & Wang, Chang, 2021. "Global energy networks: Geographies of mergers and acquisitions of worldwide oil companies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    8. Jacek Strojny & Anna Krakowiak-Bal & Jarosław Knaga & Piotr Kacorzyk, 2023. "Energy Security: A Conceptual Overview," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-35, June.
    9. Christian Downie, 2022. "Steering global energy governance: Who governs and what do they do?," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(2), pages 487-499, April.
    10. Shafqut Ullah & Muhammad Khan & Seong-Min Yoon, 2021. "Measuring Energy Poverty and Its Impact on Economic Growth in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Maliszewska-Nienartowicz, Justyna & Stefański, Oskar, 2024. "Decentralisation versus centralisation in Swedish energy policy: the main challenges and drivers for the energy transition at the regional and local levels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Imke Lammers & Thomas Hoppe, 2018. "Analysing the Institutional Setting of Local Renewable Energy Planning and Implementation in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, September.
    13. Ofosu-Peasah, G. & Ofosu Antwi, E. & Blyth, W., 2021. "Factors characterising energy security in West Africa: An integrative review of the literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    14. Stritzke, Susann & Trotter, Philipp A. & Twesigye, Peter, 2021. "Towards responsive energy governance: Lessons from a holistic analysis of energy access in Uganda and Zambia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    15. Guliyev, Farid, 2020. "Trump’s “America first” energy policy, contingency and the reconfiguration of the global energy order," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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