Politicizing UK Energy: What Speaking Energy Security Can Do

By: Dr Caroline Kuzemko,  Energy Policy Group, University of Exeter

EPG Working Paper: 1303

Abstract

This paper explores one set of conditions under which a policy area, energy, became politicized. It also explores the relationship between concepts of ‘speaking security’, which claim that the language of security is politically potent, and notions of (de-)politicization. It argues that framing energy supply as a security issue influenced an opening up of UK energy, which had been subject to processes of depoliticization since the early 1980s, to political interest and deliberation. Speaking security about energy had a high degree of popular cognitive authority and to have been instrumental in revealing a lack of policymaking capacity in energy.

Keywords: politicization; securitization; energy and climate policy; change

Contact: c.kuzemko@exeter.ac.uk

Date: June 2013

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Posted by: rhoggett

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