Germany's energy transition: making it deliver. EPC Discussion Paper, 9 October 2017

Germany has taken great pride in spearheading a shift to a greener economy. Its Energiewende (energy transition) has received international attention because of the ambitious effort to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix and some have gone as far as portraying it as a model for building a renewable future. The story, however, comes with its shades of grey. While both the vision and the objectives are commendable, the implementation has been mixed. While many of the challenges that have arisen have been acknowledged by the government, Germany's experience is an invaluable source of lessons for the country itself and the EU as a whole. The German example reminds how important it is for countries to have a comprehensive vision for a sustainable energy system from the start and an all-inclusive strategy for its achievement, which are in line with the EU objectives and implemented in coordination with other member states

Holding the Shop Together: German Industrial Relations in the Postwar Era

[Excerpt] Since the onset of the global financial crisis in late 2008 there has been a boom in positive assessments of the German economy. Little wonder. Remarkably, Germany has managed to bring down unemployment to more than one percentage point below the precrisis level and to maintain a current account surplus equivalent to 5 percent of its gross domestic product. This is not the first time that Germany\u27s stock has ridden high. German economic institutions received praise for the economic miracle of the late 1950s and early 1960s, the model Germany economy that weathered the oil shocks comparatively well during the 1970s, and the export world champion economy of the mid-1980s. At other times, however, academics and journalists have been bearish on Germany. High unemployment dogged the German economy for a quarter century, starting in the early 1980s. From the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, Germany was generally dismissed as the economic sick man of Europe. These oscillating appraisals of the German economy raise two questions: Does the current positive assessment of German economic institutions reflect something real, or is it just another speculative bubble? And, what is it about German economic institutions that has drawn the attention of so many over the years? In this book I address these questions by examining a key pillar of the postwar German economy, namely, the industrial relations system

"Revision and Discussion of the energy situation (crisis) in Europe from a risk perspective: the United Kingdom and Germany Cases.”

The energy crisis has been a topic of great concern for the global community. It is characterized by the volatility of energy prices, the increasing demand for energy, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Europe has been facing an energy crisis that has threatened the region's economic stability and security. Energy security is a critical issue for the European Union, as it is highly dependent on imported energy resources. According to the European Commission, around 53% of energy consumption in the EU is imported, with the dependency expected to rise to 73% by 2030 (European Commission, 2018). The United Kingdom and Germany are among the largest energy consumers in Europe, and their energy policies and energy mix have significant implications for the region's energy security. This thesis, titled "Revision and Discussion of the Energy Situation (Crisis) in Europe from a Risk Perspective: United Kingdom and Germany Cases," delves into the energy challenges faced by Europe, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom and Germany. The study through the definition of five research questions delves into the strategies the UK and Germany have been using to manage the current energy crisis. Authors choose a qualitative methodology approach through the scoping of different publications such as papers, books, reports, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), and government crisis management plans. Theoretical basis are presented on the Risk Management and Governance domain which is later compared to the theoretical findings on the risk and crisis management practices the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany have implemented or are currently effective. The analysis section them present the results and expand on each country specific cases. The United Kingdom's energy policy is shaped by its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its desire to maintain energy security. The country's energy mix comprises natural gas, oil, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy sources. Germany's energy policy is also shaped by its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it is facing challenges meeting its energy demand. The country has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, and it has closed all its nuclear power plants. However, the transition to a low-carbon energy system has also increased Germany's reliance on imported energy resources, raising concerns about the country's energy security. As part of the conclusions, some points are discussed as follow: The UK and Germany have developed toolboxes which provides key definitions, methodologies, suggestions, and examples on how to carry risk assessments. These documents are based on the EU regulations as part of treaties signed among all the countries participating in the commission. European countries in general seems to agree that all risk assessment and management methodologies as per EU commission recommendations should be based in ISO 31010. This is the case also for the UK where the BIS (British institute of Standardisation) agrees in the same. As a general conclusion this study present that even though national risk assessments and plan have been in place, some of the analysis lacked on the resilience and the likelihood of the risk events to occur

Local Renewable Energy Initiatives in Germany and Japan in a Changing National Policy Environment

Our article explores the contribution of local initiatives to the creation of path dependencies for energy transition in Germany and Japan in the face of resistance from entrenched incumbents at the national level. We use a process-tracing methodology based partly on interviews with local participants. In particular, we explore the role of local initiatives in securing socio-political space for the expansion of renewable energy (RE) and in embedding themselves in ecosystems of public and private institutions. German energy activists were more successful than their Japanese counterparts in expanding this space and creating positive feedback in part because they were able to build horizontal networks that anchored the energy transition firmly in local communities. Although problems with grid technology have led to retrenchment in both cases, Japanese activists\u27 reliance on vertical networks has limited their ability to weather a backlash from national government and utility actors. Our study demonstrates the interaction of political, economic/technological, and legitimation paths to energy transition and highlights the importance of the latter two

Germany's interests in the Arctic, as exemplified by its Arctic Council engagement

Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2019This thesis is a qualitative research exercise, which tests the explanatory value of the international relations theory of neoliberal institutionalism in explaining Germany's engagement in the Arctic and in the Arctic Council. The research question further attempts to clarify Germany's economic and environmental interests pursued through its engagement with the AC. This thesis analyzes Germany's engagement in the Arctic from a historical point of view up to Germany's contemporary interests. Germany's first Arctic engagement started with the period of whaling, continued through the age of polar heroes, up to the weather war of World War II. After the two World Wars, Germany struggled to restart its Arctic engagement, but nowadays enjoys a high reputation as an Arctic player. This is due to the well-known German polar research institute, the Alfred Wegener Institut Helholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, but also due to Germany's engagement in the Arctic Council. As a result of Germany's long history of polar, especially Arctic endeavors, the country became an Observer in the Arctic Council at its founding. As global warming has caused significant melting in the Arctic, Germany's interest has shifted from environmental concerns in the region to a dual emphasis of protecting the environment while pursuing economic opportunities. Today Germany pursues several interests in the Arctic, including economic, political, and environmental interests. Neoliberal institutionalism argues that cooperation can emerge through mutual trust and the building of norms, regimes and institutions. Realism on the other hand emphasizes security competition among great powers within anarchy of the international system, with the main aim to survive. The results of the analysis suggest that the theory of neoliberal institutionalism has better explanatory power for interpreting Germany's motivations for engaging in the Arctic Council than the theory of realism.Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework -- Chapter 3: Germany's Historical Interest in the Arctic -- Chapter 4: Germany's Interests in the Arctic in the Contemporary Era -- Chapter 5: Theoretical Analysis - Neoliberal Institutionalism and Realism -- Chapter 6: Summary and Conclusion -- Bibliography

Local Renewable Energy Initiatives in Germany and Japan in a Changing National Policy Environment

Our article explores the contribution of local initiatives to the creation of path dependencies for energy transition in Germany and Japan in the face of resistance from entrenched incumbents at the national level. We use a process-tracing methodology based partly on interviews with local participants. In particular, we explore the role of local initiatives in securing socio-political space for the expansion of renewable energy (RE) and in embedding themselves in ecosystems of public and private institutions. German energy activists were more successful than their Japanese counterparts in expanding this space and creating positive feedback in part because they were able to build horizontal networks that anchored the energy transition firmly in local communities. Although problems with grid technology have led to retrenchment in both cases, Japanese activists\u27 reliance on vertical networks has limited their ability to weather a backlash from national government and utility actors. Our study demonstrates the interaction of political, economic/technological, and legitimation paths to energy transition and highlights the importance of the latter two

Germany vs. Europe: The Principle of Democracy in German Constitutional Law and the Troubled Future of European Integration

This Article introduces the Demokratieprinzip. In Part II, I begin by more fully documenting the Euro-skeptical turn in Germany\u27s relationship with Europe, paying particular attention to the central role played by the Constitutional Court\u27s interpretation of the Demokratieprinzip. Part III, in four subparts, provides a doctrinal introduction to the principle of democracy. First, I map the principle\u27s bases in the text of the German Grundgesetz (Basic Law or Constitution). Second, I present the gloss the Constitutional Court has given the principle, making special reference to the Court\u27s recent decisions involving challenges to Germany\u27s participation in measures seeking to advance European integration. Third, I deepen our understanding of the Demokratieprinzip by considering the Court\u27s vision of parliamentary democracy, which has developed into a central component of the broader Demokratieprinzip. Finally, I rebut claims that, for all its rhetorical bombast and headline-grabbing dramatics, the Court\u27s jurisprudence relying on the Demokratieprinzip as the basis for reluctance towards Europe has not served as a practical barrier to further European integration. In Part IV, I provide greater theoretical insight into the Court\u27s interpretation of the Demokratieprinzip by demonstrating that it is a nearly complete realization of Juergen Habermas\u27s theory of discursive democracy. This highlights two important points. First, contrary to Habermas\u27s supranational vision for his discourse theory of politics, the Court insists that the principle of democracy find its expression within the framework of the German state. This might be the final attribute of the doctrine as it has been defined by the Court. Second, to the extent that the Constitutional Court\u27s interpretation of the principle of democracy now constitutes a barrier to European integration, this involves an astounding, historic, and deeply German irony because Habermas has been one of Germany\u27s most determined and visionary advocates for European supranationalism