The Zeitenwende, State Traditions, and the Developmental Imperative in German Energy Policy
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Abstract
This article argues that contemporary German environmental and energy policy has been shaped by the dominance of the Rechtsstaat—or “Legal State”—tradition. Although German authorities have articulated laudable climate goals and related hopes for greater energy independence—most recently in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's 2022 declaration of a Zeitenwende in German security and energy policy—the weakness of the developmental imperative, coupled with the power of interests central to the country's export-led growth model, have undermined the investments required for achieving these aims.
Contributor Notes
Mark I. Vail is Worrell Chair of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University. His research focuses on the comparative political economy of advanced industrial countries, with an emphasis on social and economic policy, industrial relations, and the role of political ideologies in Western Europe. He has published two books: Liberalism in Illiberal States (Oxford, 2018), and Recasting Welfare Capitalism (Temple, 2010), as well as articles in many prominent journals, including the Journal of Common Market Studies, Comparative Politics, and West European Politics. He is also editor of the series Understanding Europe, published by Agenda Publishing (UK). Email: vailm@wfu.edu