Abstract
The aim of the research project is to study the energy transition with reference to the Italian case focusing on interest groups dynamics and actors’ coalitions as relevant factors in determining national energy policies. Even if renewable energy technologies have become increasingly competitive, appropriate policies continue to remain critically important for their future development. National arenas are key on this regard: public policies at this level implement international (and EU) agreements and programs, and provide financial and regulatory support for increasing the role of renewables in the energy mix. Different actors’ coalitions hence seek to influence national energy policymaking, and policy developments will help determine the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of the energy transition. The proposed research project focuses on the role of interest groups, big businesses and advocacy coalitions in the process of energy transition at the national level. Particularly, the research project intends to elucidate the structure and composition of these actors’ coalitions and their role in the policy making process concerning the financial and regulatory measures supporting (or hindering) the deployment of renewable energy technologies at the national level. The research project intends to analyse these dynamics with reference to the Italian case. Although the research project covers the beginning of the Italian energy transition and the initial development of the Italian renewable energy policy subsystem, its main empirical focus will be on two key time-phases: the post-pandemic period, characterized by the formulation and implementation of the Italian recovery plan (PNRR); and the post 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine period, characterized by the energy crisis and the EU and national response to the crisis. These two periods represent critical junctures for the Italian energy transition. The decisions taken in these junctures will shape the future development of the Italian energy policy and energy system. Methodologically, the project relies on the methods of process tracing, interviews, and network analysis techniques. The project’s expected results and impacts are manifold. First, the project will improve the analytical knowledge of the politics of the energy transition and the role played by interest groups, gas and oil incumbents, renewable industries and advocacy coalition in it. This knowledge is very important to design policy measures able to increase the supporters of the energy transition making this process more feasible. Secondly, the project will close an important gap in the literature, as there is no research on these topics covering the Italian case. Finally, the project will help the consolidation of a network of early-career and senior researchers on the politics and policy of the Italian energy transition. This network will be important for disseminating knowledge, developing comparative studies, and contributing to an informed public debate on the Italian energy transition.Specifically, the main research results will consist of articles to be published in academic journals in political science and related fields; papers to be presented at national and international conferences; events for discussion and debate with experts and policy makers; and finally, at least one co-authored book, possibly comparative, including other case studies. Principal Investigator e altri membri del gruppo di ricerca/ The research project team is composed of: Andrea Prontera, Principal Investigator - Associate Professor - Department of Political Sciences, Communication and International Relations - University of Macerata Renata Lizzi - Head of the Unibo Research Unit e/o Associate Investigator – Department of Social and Political Sciences - University of Bologna Paola Arrigoni – Research Fellow at the Unibo Research Unit - Department of Social and Political Sc
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Renata Lizzi
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di MACERATA(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 93.487,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
28/09/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
