1st Edition
Challenges of European External Energy Governance with Emerging Powers
In a multipolar world with growing demand for energy, not least by Emerging Powers such as Brazil, India, China or South Africa (BICS), questions of EU external energy governance would at first hand appear to be a high-priority. Yet, reality tells a different story: the EU’s geographical focus remains on adjacent countries in the European neighbourhood and on issues related to energy security. Despite being Strategic Partners and engaging in energy dialogues, it seems that the EU is lacking strategic vision and is not perceived as a major actor in energy cooperation with the BICS. Thus, political momentum for energy cooperation and joint governance of scarce resources is vanishing. Resulting from three years of international, interdisciplinary research cooperation among academics and practitioners in Europe and the BICS countries within a project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, this volume addresses one of the greatest global challenges. Specific focus lies on the bilateral energy dialogues and Strategic Partnerships between the EU and Emerging Powers regarding bilateral, inter- and transnational energy cooperation. Furthermore, the analysis provides policy recommendations in order to tap the full potential of energy cooperation between the EU and Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
Biography
Michèle Knodt is Jean Monnet Professor for European Integration and Comparative Politics at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany. She works on the new role of Emerging Powers in international politics with a special focus on energy and triangular cooperation. Furthermore, her research interests include EU external democracy promotion in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus as well as Civil Society Engagement in the European Multilevel System. Nadine Piefer is a Researcher at the Department of Political Science at the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, and a freelance Consultant. Her research and consultancy work focuses on EU foreign and energy relations with the BICS, new development partners and triangular cooperation. She has research and practical experience in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, India, China and Germany. Franziska Müller is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Kassel, Germany. Her PhD analyzed governmentality and normative power within EU-ACP relations. Her research interests include EU relations with Emerging Powers, poststructuralist and postcolonial IR theory, international aid governance, and qualitative social research. Her current work focuses on IRENA's role for a global energy transition, thereby exploring transformations of North-South relations at the energy/development nexus.
’An authoritative and lucid description of priority issues underlying European energy governance with emerging powers. This energy dialogue among a distinguished group of international experts builds on sound technical analysis and in-depth empirical knowledge. It highlights the mutual benefits of energy partnerships, multilateral policymaking and strategic vision in an increasingly resource-scarce and multipolar world. A must read for decision-makers, researchers and the concerned public.’ Mohan Munasinghe, Chairman, Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND), Sri Lanka; 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate on behalf of the IPCC (shared with Al Gore) ’This book systematically applies a sophisticated research design combining in-depth empirical work with rigorous methodology and theoretical explanations in all chapters. The contributors examine one of the major global challenges of the 21st century: energy relations between Europe and large emerging powers, such as Brazil, India, China and South Africa. The edited volume is thematically coherent and presents an impressive integrated connected analysis.’ Martin Holland, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
