13796 - Just Energy Transition Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13796
Module Title:Just Energy Transition
  Energiewende gerecht gestalten
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Hirschl, Bernd
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every summer semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:On completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate the main conceptual debates surrounding just energy transitions. Students will be equipped with in-depth critical theoretical and empirical knowledge of the patterns of energy transition governance. After attending the module, students are able to conduct case analyses.

The module is designed for Master students to develop their research, argumentation and presentation skills, as well as their capacities for collaborative work and group learning.
Contents:This module will discuss key opportunities and challenges of transitioning towards climate neutral energy systems, primarily through a social science lens. “Leaving no one behind” is a catchphrase used in contemporary climate and energy policies, that we will explore in more detail with texts from political science (policy analysis and political economy), philosophy, economics and sociology. We will discuss the dynamics of capitalism, questions of culture and everyday life, the role of the state, and international governance structures.
The course is guided by the following questions:
  • What are the conceptual foundations of just energy transitions?
  • What are universal and country-specific challenges to just energy transitions?
  • What are national and international responses from society, politics and businesses to these challenges?
Recommended Prerequisites:none
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Seminar / 4 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:There are no core texts for this course. Essential readings for the seminars will be indicated with the course start.

The following literature can be used for preparation:
  • Scoones, I., Leach, M., and Newell, P., eds. 2015. The politics of green transformations. Abingdon: Routledge
  • Unruh, G. C. (2000) ‘Understanding carbon lock-in’, Energy Policy, Vol 28, no 12, pp 817–830
  • Peter Newell & Andrew Simms (2021) How Did We Do That? Histories and Political Economies of Rapid and Just Transitions, New Political Economy, 26:6, 907-922
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Case study, about 2,500 words (50 %)
    Empirical case study with theoretical underpinnings of a region/country of the student’s choice (not restricted to Global North): What are specific opportunities and challenges of a just energy transition and which responses have been implemented/are lacking?
  • Presentation, 15 min + 5 min Disscussion (topics to be announced) (40 %)
    topics to be announced
  • Class Participation (10 %)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:20
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2011
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
 This module has been approved for the general studies.
Remarks:Module with limited number of participants - Registration two weeks prior to the commencement of lectures!

Module Components:
  • Seminar
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: