Research question
In numerous publications, both scientific and political, the “Energiewende” is classified as a transformation project. Undoubtedly, the change to a renewable energy system has transformative potential. However, the meaning of “Energiewende” or transformation in politics and research mostly remains vague. Therefore, the present study examines the meaning of “Energiewende”, as negotiated in the federal German parliament (German: Bundestag). On this basis, it is analyzed whether and to what extent the “Energiewende” complies with the claim of being a transformation project – or rather where the associated policies can be placed within an axis of persistence – reform – transformation.
Object of research
The particular social significance of the Bundestag debates on the “Energiewende“ derives, among other things, from their so-called ‘showcase function’, according to which the debates are strategically
oriented towards an extra-parliamentary public. In addition, the discourse taking place here materializes directly, e.g. in laws. The starting point of the investigation is the beginning of the legislative period led by a coalition of the SPD (German Democratic Party) and the Green Party (1998). This government is generally associated with the “Energiewende“ due to the adoption of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (German: Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG) and the political decision to phase out nuclear power. The discourse analysis therefore is applied to the Bundestag debates on the “Energiewende“ of the 14th until the 18th legislative period (1998-2017), which is the last complete legislative period by the
time of the study.
Theoretical background
The study is based on a combination of the discourse theory according to Laclau/Mouffe (2015) with the concept of ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften’, which specifies the position of the present study within transformation theory. The discourse theory according to Laclau/Mouffe (2015) is characterized in
particular by its significance as a political theory and a theory of hegemony. Its concept of discourse 1 Energy transition is not a precise translation of “Energiewende“, which is why the German word is used in the
following. 2 As there is no precise translation of ‘Vorsorge’ into English, the word formation ‘pre-caring’, which has already been used in earlier translations of ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften‘, is used here.
subverts the dichotomy between linguistic/spiritual versus non-linguistic/material by considering the material world as part of the discourse – without denying its materiality.
‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften‘ is defined as a "critical approach" that takes the domination-shaped character of societal relations to nature and gender as a starting point for analysis and intervention (Netzwerk Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften 2013: 10). It is based on three principles: pre-caring, cooperation and orientation towards what is necessary for a good life.
By linking discourse and transformation theory, the study contributes to their common theoretical and methodical development. Thus, by the combination with ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften‘, a normative expansion of the discourse theory becomes possible, which brings political economy into view. At the same time, the potential of the material concept of discourse according to Laclau/Mouffe (2015) for social-ecological research becomes explicit. Based on the perspective of ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften‘, the study is considered in the context of critical, feminist sustainability and transformation research.
Methodology
The innovative methodological potential of the study lies particularly in the mixed methods approach, combining a method of quantitative, computer assisted discourse analysis with a qualitative analysis. The link between transformation and discourse theory methodically results in a complex research design, which could also be valuable for other fields of political transformation research. The basis of this research design is an analysis of the “Energiewende“ discourse over four levels of deconstruction.
Als Ergebnis der Verknüpfung von Transformations- und Diskurstheorie wird ein methodisch komplexes Forschungsdesign präsentiert, das sich neben der Analyse des „Energiewende“-Diskurses auf weitere Bereiche der politischen Transformationsforschung übertragen lässt. Basis dieses Forschungsdesigns ist eine Analyse über vier Dekonstruktions-Ebenen. The discourse theory according to Laclau/Mouffe (2015) is operationalized in one quantitative and two qualitative steps. Quantitative evaluation of all plenary protocols during the periods under review is carried out using PolmineR, a tool for analyzing plenary protocols in the programming language R (www.polmine.github.io). At the first level of deconstruction of the lexical elements, temporal developments in the discourse (e.g. frequency) are traced around “Energiewende” and regular difference-relations (collocations) are examined. 30 plenary protocols and documents, which prove to be particularly relevant for the discourse, are qualitatively analyzed in the next step. In doing so, the discourse is analyzed on two further levels of
deconstruction. By means of a coding method, complexity-reducing narratives, so-called story lines, are identified. Thereupon, underlying fantasmatic narratives are explicated. The discourse-theoretical analysis on these three levels of deconstruction is finally brought together in a discussion based on theory of hegemony. As a next step, the results of the discourse analysis are reflected on a fourth level of deconstruction using the perspective of ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften’. The concept is operationalized on the basis of its principles (pre-caring, cooperation and orientation towards what is necessary for a good life) and supplemented by two additional criteria from the literature – "externalization as a principle" and "potentials for shaping the future, less characterized by domination" (cf. Biesecker/von Winterfeld 2015). A heuristic for analysis is generated, with the help of which the effects of the policies associated with the “Energiewende” are classified within an axis of persistence – reform – transformation. The
basis of this classification derives from the positioning of the study in critical feminist transformation research, which is explicated in the theory part. As defined by the retroductive research design of this study according to Glynos/Howarth (2007), the empirical applicability of the concept ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften’ is developed in a subject-related way and expanded. For example, the analysis of debates on energy policy clearly shows neocolonial articulation patterns and national narratives, which is why ‘Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften’ is analytically specified here in terms of national and neocolonial power structures.
Results
The results of the deconstruction of the “Energiewende” discourse are presented in two parts. The first part refers to the discourse analysis of the Bundestag debates on the “Energiewende” according to the discourse theory by Laclau/Mouffe (2015). Here, results indicate that a post-politicization process has taken place in the debates after the reactor disaster of Fukushima. This becomes apparent through a predominantly market-economic integration of “Energiewende” as well as a discursive dissociation
from social-ecological problems. In the second part of the deconstruction, the focus is on the elaboration of hierarchical externalization structures using a critical-emancipatory research perspective of ‘Vorsorgendes Wirschaften’. Thus, material effects of political practices in connection with “Energiewende” and the associated power relations are decoded. The feminist perspective of the study provides an innovative insight into the
debates, which has been marginalized in previous research. On the one hand, the (gender-hierarchical) structure of these debates manifests itself in what is being discussed – mainly economic and technological questions, which are assigned to the public sphere – while social issues remain assigned
to the private sphere and hardly occur. On the other hand, counter-hegemonic demands are delegitimized and forced out of the political sphere by depreciating the socially feminine (e.g. as "hysterical" (CSU
24.03.2011: 11300)).
Conclusion
The analysis of the discourse on “Energiewende“ shows a significant turning point with “Fukushima”. Before “Fukushima” “Energiewende” is rarely articulated in the Bundestag – even under the red-green government – and thus cannot be classified as a transformation project of federal legislation. After “Fukushima”, energy policy practices are identified, which – on the basis of the research perspective “Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften” – can be classified between reform and persistence, regarding their effects; in some cases they even show reactionary elements. Thus, especially after "Fukushima", a reduction of “Energiewende” to procedural, technocratic and management-oriented political practices can be illustrated, which are based on a naturalization of market-economic structures and do not address
societal relations to nature. Moreover, it is shown that energy policy demands, that were marginalized before “Fukushima” are appropriated by a hegemonic discourse formation afterwards. The study identifies the narrative that is established in this context as 'technocratic-management-oriented ecoconsensus'. The central results of the study point out that with the “Energiewende” a large, potentially transformation-oriented project, which was originally promoted by social-ecologically oriented civil societal movements, is mobilized for procedural oriented political processes in the Bundestag and at the same time emptied of social-ecological and political meaning.
Reflection and outlook
The discourse on “Energiewende” was deconstructed extensively with the help of the combination of discourse theory with a perspective of “Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften”. The extension of the discourse theory by integrating a normative concept focusing on political economic structures contributes to
operationalizing the material concept of discourse according to Laclau/Mouffe (2015) and thus opens discourse theory empirically for social-ecological transformation research. In particular, the computer assisted data analysis tool has proven to be effective in pre-structuring the
material for the following qualitative analytical steps and has helped to adapt the research design to the retroductive research approach.
The underlying theory of this study implies that understanding and recognizing externalization structures and naturalizations is necessary for an emancipatory policy and practice. However, critique does not fulfill an end in itself, but can open up emancipatory, non-externalizing perspectives. In this sense, at the end of the study, some strategies for a re-politicization of “Energiewende” are outlined.