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2021 | Book

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International Networks, Advocacy and EU Energy Policy-Making

Author: Dr. Alexandra-Maria Bocse

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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About this book

This book explores the role which policy networks and particularly advocacy coalitions play in EU energy policy, and the factors that account for their policy success. It captures the often neglected interaction between public and private actors in EU energy security policy and between opposing advocacy coalitions. The volume’s case studies examine coalitions working on two issues central to EU energy policy debates over the last decade: fracking for shale gas and developing the Southern Gas Corridor, a pipeline system linking Europe with the gas region of the Caspian Sea. Although the coalitions studied are focused on impacting EU energy policy, they stretch beyond the EU borders. The book draws on original, rich, and intriguing data, around 90 interviews with energy stakeholders and over six months of fieldwork and participant observation, analysed through an innovative combination of frame analysis and social network analysis.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
This chapter introduces the main questions triggering the research and explains the case studies selection through their centrality to the energy policy debates taking place in Brussels in the last decade. Developing the Southern Gas Corridor benefited from increasing attention as mistrust in Russia as energy supplier grew and fracking dominated debates in the context of the US shale gas revolution. In addition, the chapter offers a survey of the literature (on ‘advocacy coalitions’, information as an ‘access good’, ‘framing’, and ‘social network theory’) that informed the study. The last part of the chapter provides insight into the methodology used in this study of advocacy coalitions and particularly the innovative combination of discourse analysis, content analysis, and social network analysis (SNA) employed here.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 2. The European Union and Energy Policy: Developments and Institutional Actors
Abstract
The chapter discusses evolutions in European energy policy and presents the EU institutional and policy context in which coalitions studied in the book operate. It offers an overview of European integration in the field of energy and discusses what EU energy security entails. It also explains how the European Commission and the European Parliament shape energy policy and what makes them the target of coalition advocacy. The European Commission can pave the way diplomatically for energy projects, provide exemptions from EU law for energy infrastructure, and financially support key energy transport projects. In recent years the European Parliament has come to play an increasing role in EU energy policy. The expansion of EP’s legislative power makes the EP an interesting target of advocacy and lobby.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 3. Fracking in the European Union: Coalitions in Collision
Abstract
The chapter starts by providing the background on the fracking for shale gas debate in the EU, introduces the main arguments of the supporters and opponents of fracking, and presents the process through which the issue entered the agenda of the European institutions. The European Parliament can affect the decision-making process on an issue area through its own initiative reports, especially when it comes to highly controversial issues. The chapter also introduces the two coalitions working on the topic (the pro-fracking coalition and the anti-fracking coalition) and provides an overview of the reasons that led different members to become part of the coalitions. The membership of the coalitions and the connections between members are visually captured on a sociogram generated through social network analysis.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 4. Fracking in the European Union: The Power of Resources, Words, and Structure
Abstract
The pro-fracking coalition influenced the most the position of the European Parliament on fracking. Its success is explained by the successful use of information and material resources, the development of a broad frame to attract allies (integrating and responding to exogenous factors such as the global financial and economic crisis), and, to a certain degree, the inclusion in the coalition of actors well connected in the policy subsystem. The study shows that members of the pro-fracking coalition were numerous and occupied key positions in the policy subsystem working on fracking. Through them the coalition could intermediate information exchanges and promote its frames on fracking and its benefits. A case is made for acknowledging the interplay between several factors in generating coalition success.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 5. The Southern Gas Corridor: Coalitions in Collision
Abstract
The chapter starts by offering some background on the Southern Gas Corridor and by presenting the parameters of the race between Nabucco and TAP for the role of pipeline through which the Corridor will open. The Corridor is considered by the EU an important pillar of its energy supply diversification strategy generating increased energy security. The European Commission could offer diplomatic and political support, exemptions from EU law, and financial assistance to the pipelines. This converted the European Commission into the target of advocacy.
The chapter introduces the members of the coalitions, as well as their connections and positions in the broader policy subsystem working on the Southern Gas Corridor. All these are visually captured on a sociogram generated through social network analysis.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 6. The Southern Gas Corridor: The Power of Resources, Words, and Structure
Abstract
The chapter discusses the TAP coalition’s success that was generated by its resources, its reach in the policy subsystem, but above all its ability to develop an advocacy frame successful in convincing the European Commission that TAP pipeline had great policy merit. The TAP frame was successful as it resonated well with the interests of the Commission, it took properly into account the political and economic context, and it interacted successfully with the competitive frame advanced by the opposing coalition supporting Nabucco. TAP consortium’s high betweenness centrality indicates that, through the reach that it had in the broader policy subsystem, the consortium was in a good position to mediate information exchanges and shape the understanding that the EU policy environment had of TAP’s benefits.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Chapter 7. Further Discussion and Conclusions
Abstract
The chapter discusses the implications of the book findings for the literature on EU energy policy, advocacy coalitions, and governance. It challenges the emphasis placed on EU and governmental actors in explaining EU energy policy outcomes, as well as the horizontality of networks participating in international governance, and develops a comprehensive explanatory model for the success of advocacy coalitions. The chapter also highlights the methodological innovations advanced by this research: combining a SNA approach with a frame analysis approach in the exploration of networks’ advocacy strategies; looking also at group SNA metrics rather than only at individual actor SNA metrics; and studying advocacy coalitions in interaction especially those in considerable opposition. The last part of the chapter advances policy recommendations and discusses future research avenues.
Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
International Networks, Advocacy and EU Energy Policy-Making
Author
Dr. Alexandra-Maria Bocse
Copyright Year
2021
Electronic ISBN
978-3-030-49505-3
Print ISBN
978-3-030-49504-6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49505-3