A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Energy citizens – Conveyors of changing democratic institutions?
Abstract A transition towards a low-carbon energy system poses new challenges to democratic participation. The transition to clean energy requires a better understanding of crosscutting sociocultural and sociopolitical issues, such as democratic institutions, to devise effective ways of involving citizens and better understand how energy-related views and attitudes are embedded in democratic practice. This paper discusses how the emergence of energy citizenship complies with and holds the possibility for institutional innovation regarding citizen participation. The research question considers how the conceptual innovation of energy citizenship, that is associated with new forms of citizen engagement in fossil fuel reduction policy, positions itself in the debate on participation as an institutionalised value of democracy. Four archetypes of energy citizenship are compared with different forms of democratic citizen participation, and their innovative potential is discussed. This paper is based on the theory of institutions, innovation, and citizen participation.
Highlights How does the concept of energy citizenship comply with understandings of democratic participation? Does energy citizenship carry a potential for innovating democratic institutions? A disruptive potential appear most prominent regarding energy citizenship as technological trial and as grassrots innovation. This depends on energy citizens being necessary partners for energy producers and public authorities. It also depends on whether they reach a critical mass.
Energy citizens – Conveyors of changing democratic institutions?
Abstract A transition towards a low-carbon energy system poses new challenges to democratic participation. The transition to clean energy requires a better understanding of crosscutting sociocultural and sociopolitical issues, such as democratic institutions, to devise effective ways of involving citizens and better understand how energy-related views and attitudes are embedded in democratic practice. This paper discusses how the emergence of energy citizenship complies with and holds the possibility for institutional innovation regarding citizen participation. The research question considers how the conceptual innovation of energy citizenship, that is associated with new forms of citizen engagement in fossil fuel reduction policy, positions itself in the debate on participation as an institutionalised value of democracy. Four archetypes of energy citizenship are compared with different forms of democratic citizen participation, and their innovative potential is discussed. This paper is based on the theory of institutions, innovation, and citizen participation.
Highlights How does the concept of energy citizenship comply with understandings of democratic participation? Does energy citizenship carry a potential for innovating democratic institutions? A disruptive potential appear most prominent regarding energy citizenship as technological trial and as grassrots innovation. This depends on energy citizens being necessary partners for energy producers and public authorities. It also depends on whether they reach a critical mass.
Energy citizens – Conveyors of changing democratic institutions?
Ringholm, Toril (author)
Cities ; 126
2022-03-17
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Changing Local Governance, Changing Citizens
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