A new study in Energy Research & Social Science examines how public and media debates, rather than top-down policy alone, have driven the decarbonization of road transport in Norway. The research frames “contestation”—the process of democratic struggle and argument in the media—as central to shaping and legitimizing the ambitious shift away from fossil fuels. The authors argue that understanding these societal conflicts is key to explaining the pace and nature of the energy transition in a democratic context.
Why it might matter to you:
For those analyzing political economy and social change, this case underscores that major economic transitions are forged in the public sphere, not just in legislative chambers. It provides a framework for evaluating how democratic debate can accelerate or constrain policy goals like decarbonization, offering lessons for strategists beyond the Nordic context. The research shifts focus from policy outcomes to the contentious processes that make them politically viable.
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