Abstract
This article examines China’s rapid and large-scale renewable energy expansion and the challenge it presents to orthodox approaches to sustainable energy diffusion that emphasise soft interventions and stakeholder participation. We show that China eschewed participatory modes of energy governance and pursued a centrally steered, hard interventionist strategy adapted to its non-democratic regime. We observe that China’s approach provides an alternative blueprint for development that is potentially attractive to some audiences. Drawing on recent soft power debates, we argue that China’s hard interventionist mode of governance in the renewables sector has the potential to enhance Chinese soft power both domestically and abroad.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 79-106 |
Number of pages | 28 |
Journal | Journal of International Relations and Development |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 5 May 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2022 |
Keywords
- China
- Climate Change Politics
- Renewables
- soft power